20.109(F12): Pre-proposal WFGreen

Investigators

Mahesh Thapa

Shulin Ye

WF Green

Title of Proposed Project

20.109(F12) Pre-Proposal: Optimizing the Size of Algal Chloroplast Antennea for Bioreactors

Project Summary

Modern American society depends on fossil fuels such as petroleum; however, our reliance on these fuels puts both our economy and national security at risk and the CO₂ released is destabilizing our planet’s climate. Because of these issues, many are researching renewable energy sources such as solar panels, hydrogen power, and biological fuels. Although biodiesel is the most petroleum-like fuel among these options, it is less efficient, in part due to the fact that algae tend to be optimized for low-light conditions; we propose a genetic screen in order to find a strain of algae more optimized for direct sunlight.