Algae Engineering Kits for Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Synechococcus elongatus
Traditionally, algae researchers have relied on cells, cloning tools and vectors that were inferior and could easily get contaminated resulting in low survival rates. An US based company- Life Technologies has now introduced genetic engineering kits, called Gene Art for two potent strains – Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (potent strain for hydrogen production) and Synchococcus elongatus ( potent strain for biodiesel and ethanol production). These strains also can be deployed for use in neutraceuticals and speciality chemicals.
These Gene Art kits will enable the researchers to create transformed algal cells in fewer days, and more importantly save time that might otherwise be spent on strain optimization, media preparation and other labor-intensive steps.
The kits that have been introduced combine optimized and fully characterized vectors guaranteed pure and viable cells, specialty media for each strain and simple protocols to create the first standardized system for algae research and metabolic engineering.
These algae strains in the kit can also be he shipped and stored frozen at -80 degrees Celsius, which simplifies their standardization and use. You can get more information about the kit from here – http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/17/4061444/geneart-algae-engineering-kits.html . More about Life Biotechnologies from here – http://www.lifetechnologies.com/#
