Marine Biologists in Taiwan have isolated a gene that moderates cell death in algae, and could allow them to provide early warning in the aquaculture industry.
A team led by Chang Jeng of National Taiwan Ocean University has developed a molecular probe that is able to predict the cell death process among algae. Using the probe, the aquaculture and fishing industry will be able to know in advance about any mass die-off in algae, an important food source for fish in the natural environment.
If such large-scale losses of algae can be predicted, facilities such as open-ocean fish farms can take remedial action (e.g, increase levels of feed supplied to caged fish) to mitigate loss of smaller feed fish affected by the loss of algae.
Early detection of algal loss could also help predict other changes to the farmed fish environment and take appropriate action.
Tags: algae, fish health, predicatbility, sensors
Posted in Environment, Innovation. Permalink for this post: permalink.
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This innovation is promising enough and will be widespread if successful. Recent article from Taipei Times mentions that a gene called ‘ScDSP’ is the main reason for death in algae as found by marine bilologists in National Taiwan Ocean University.By manipulating the expression of the gene, scientists might be able to trigger the death of the carbon-absorbing organisms, which could reduce greenhouse gases in a given area by causing them to sink. For further information please visit:
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/11/09/2003428101