2012- 21st Annual NC State Undergraduate Research Symposium

Session Time : 4/10/12 12:15 PM - 4/10/12 1:30 PM

Content Area : Biochemistry

Poster Appointment: , -

Student Presenters :
Candice Lynn Gurkin Biochemistry

Mentors and/or Co-Authors :
Jose Ascencio-Ibanez Biochemistry

Abstract Title : The Preliminary Steps in Production of Biofuel from the Microalgae Tetraselmis chuii: Maintaining a Culture, Extraction of RNA and Creation of cDNA

Abstract :
The purpose of this experiment is to gain knowledge about the microalgae Tetraselmis chuii. T.chuii is an algae that shows potential but has not been used for biodiesel production. The focus of our research was largely comprised of researching the algae and determining where to obtain it, what medium to grow it in, and how to maintain a stable culture. We found a reliable source for a xenic culture of the algae, media and conditions for grow. Unfortunately, it seems an axenic culture is not possible at the moment so we used the xenic culture to establish bi weekly sub-cultures. We purified RNA from the xenic culture and then produced cDNA that will be tested with a known proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) set of primers to verify that our cDNA it actually belongs to T. chuii. Once we know that the cDNA contains T. chuii transcripts, we will attempt the production of a cDNA library for sequencing.