Five different protists representing different algal classes isolated from the Arctic Ocean are being investigated for adaptation to perennial cold conditions and for identification of genes linked to mixotrophy—how certain microorganisms can assimilate organic compounds as carbon sources and to characterize the horizontal gene transfer events over evolutionary time of donor algal genes to the original host protozoa. This information will have downstream applicability to research on algal biofuels as alternative energy sources.
Principal Investigators: Connie Lovejoy, Laval University, Canada
Program: CSP 2011