This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: An international team of more than 100 scientists has taken a major step toward unlocking the secrets of some of Earth's tiniest but most important organisms. A new study led by the University of East Anglia reveals that different species of microscopic algae can behave in strikingly different ways because of their genetics.
The team hopes the findings could lead to breakthroughs in biotechnology—from cleaner fuels and carbon capture systems to advanced nanotechnology for medical treatments and sensors. The 100 Diatom Genomes Project, led by Thomas Mock of UEA's School of Environmental Sciences, is the largest algal genome sequencing project to date. Its aim is to sequence the genomes of 100 diatom species—a class of microalgae—to provide insights into their roles in capturing carbon dioxide and as the foundation of diverse aquatic food webs.
The first paper from the project, published today in the journal PLOS Biology, shows that different types of diatoms can behave in very different ways and that these differences are probably linked to their varied genetics and the complexity of their cell structures. It is hoped the work may uncover new biological processes, unique ways that diatoms have adapted to survive in different environments, and previously unknown relationships with other organisms living inside or alongside them. It could also identify useful genes and biological traits that could be used in biotechnology, such as developing new products, improving industrial processes or creating innovative solutions through genetic engineering and synthetic biology.
Mock, of UEA's School of Environmental Sciences, said, "Diatoms are found in nearly all marine and freshwater habitats and are the most species-rich algal class, with at least 100,000 species. "They are important to the world's ecosystem and contribute to 20% of global carbon fixation and oxygen production. They also help move carbon from the surface of the ocean to the deep sea, where it can be stored for long periods.
"By comparing the genetic information of diatoms that live in different environments, we hope to better understand how these organisms function, evolve and develop the traits that make them so successful and important to life on Earth, as well as how species are connected." "Ultimately, this could help scientists build models that predict everything from how individual cells behave to how entire ecosystems respond to environmental change. These insights are also critical for advancing diatom-based biotechnology, for example nanotechnology for sensor development and drug delivery, and synthetic biology platforms for the production of nutraceuticals, such as antioxidants and dietary supplements, as well as biofuels and carbon capture," Mock said. Previously, scientists have studied only the genomes, or genetic blueprints, of about 10 diatom species in detail, meaning the ability to harness their unique biology has been very limited.
To address this, researchers created the 100 Diatom Genomes Project, bringing together more than 100 scientists from 11 countries to study the genetics of a much wider range of species and create a large collection of genetic information and biological data for diatoms, which are some of the world's most important microscopic plants. The three-year project involved almost 30 collaborating institutions, including the Earlham Institute and Marine Biological Association in the UK. The scientists are also going beyond their original goal of sequencing 100 diatom genomes by combining the data with genetic information collected by other research groups around the world.
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