lecture 17 (technological applications of algae)

Question 1

what is the genus of unicellular algae that has been extensively used as a research tool in cell biology studies?

Answer 1

chlamydomonas

Question 2

why are algae so effective as bioassay organisms? and how are they used?

Answer 2

sensitive to some pollutants (eg. detergents, herbicides, dyes)
used to monitor nutrients and toxic status of natural waters, qualities of drinking water
(based on premise that cell yield is proportional to the amount of a nutrient or toxin in water samples)

Question 3

what algae revealed the existence of mRNA

Answer 3

Acetabularia

Question 4

what are algae culture collections

Answer 4

the inventory of available strains of algae in culture. important for replication of scientific research, industrial use etc.

Question 5

what is used to develop therapies for blindness?

Answer 5

green alga Chlamydomonas light receptors

Question 6

what is being used in immunological studies and cancer treatment

Answer 6

red algae fluorescent phycobiliproteins

Question 7

how are algae being used in nanotechnologies?

Answer 7

diatom frustules -> constructing nanoscale structures as sensors for gas
cyanobacteria -> electrically conductive nanowires to deliver electrons

Question 8

what is a palaeoecological indicator

Answer 8

use of accumulation of decay-resistant remains of algae in lakes/oceans sediments to deduce past environmental conditions and climate shifts or other ecological disturbances from humans

Question 9

give examples of algae or parts of algae that can remain in lake/ocean sediments for millions of years and be used for paleoecology

Answer 9

dinoflagellate cysts, calcium carbonate coccoliths, diatom resting stages, silica frustules, silicified chrysophycean stomatocysts and scales

Question 10

name three compounds present in algae that can be extracted and used as nutritional supplements

Answer 10

fatty acids, beta carotenes, proteins

Question 11

how is algae used in aquaculture?

Answer 11

non-toxic algae are the primary food source for most cultivated marine animals (eg. mollusks) since a source of essential fatty acids, proteins etc.

Question 12

what is the genus of algae most commonly used in sushi rolls

Answer 12

pyropia/porphyra

Question 13

name the gelling compounds present in algae that can be extracted from different algae

Answer 13

alginates (from brown macroalgae), and carageenan, agar and agarose from red algae

Question 14

what type of algal culturing system is normally used when the objective is extraction of pharmaceuticals?

Answer 14

large-scale bioreactors

Question 15

what are the major ways which biofuels can be produced from algae?

Answer 15

fermentation of biomass to bioethanol (brown and green algae)
extraction of lipids from diatoms
hydrogen generation systems (not yet matured to point of application)

Question 16

what biofuels are currently under a larger scale commercial development?

Answer 16

fermentation and lipid extraction

Question 17

what algal methods are used to remove nutrients from wastewaters?

Answer 17

artificial streams with turf composed primarily of larger, attached filamentous algae “turf scrubbers” (cladophora, spirogyra, oscillatoria)
ponds with suspended microalgae (such as greens scenedesmus and micractinium)

Question 18

what type of algae (name of group) would be most likely candidate for terraforming of mars and why

Question 19

why do we make pharmaceuticals from algae?

Answer 19

they produce antibiotic, antifungal, antiviral and anti-cancer compounds