MAXIMIZATION OF AGAR BIOSYNTHESIS IN THE RED ALGAE

AN INTERNAL NEED EXISTS FOR A STABLE SOURCE OF HIGH-QUALITY PURIFIED AGAR (AGAROSE) FOR BIOCHEMICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH. MATERIAL IS CURRENTLY OBTAINED EXCLUSIVELY FROM NATURAL POPULATIONS BY LABOR-INTENSIVE METHODS, SINCE CULTURE SYSTEMS HAVE YET TO BE WIDELY DEVELOPED. PRESENT PRODUCTION OF AGAR IS THREATENED BY OVER-EXPLOITATION OF NATURAL POPULATIONS AND UNSTABLE SOCIO-POLITICAL SITUATIONS IN COUNTRIES MARKETING THIS MATERIAL. OCEAN GENETICS, INC. HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER A TEAM OF SCIENTISTS WITH EXPERTISE IN DIVERSE AREAS OF ALGAL PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY IN AN ATTEMPT TO DEVELOP SUPERIOR STRAINS OF AGAROPHYTES. THESE AGAROPHYTES WILL BE MANIPULATED THROUGH BIOCHEMICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL MEANS TO PRODUCE MAXIMAL QUANTATIES OF HIGH- GRADE AGAR IN CULTURE. THE PROPOSED PROGRAM IS ATTRACTIVE BECAUSE IT WILL SUPPLY THE MEANS FOR MAKING AQUACULTURE OF THESE PLANTS COMPETITIVE WITH EXPLOITATION OF NATURAL SOURCES OF SEAWEEDS.