Purdue-led study to investigate toxic algae genetics

When levels of toxic algae, known as "blooms", rapidly increase in lakes and waterways, the effects are ecologically disastrous. Current models of predicting blooms of toxic algae have proven ineffective due to their inability to accurately predict algae blooms.

But, according to a press release by the Purdue News Service, university researchers have received a $2 million grant from the National Science Foundation with the goal of studying genetic composition of toxic algae strains in order to develop a greater understanding of toxicity.

Jennifer Wisecaver, assistant professor in Purdue's department of biochemistry, is collaborating with fellow researchers from the University of Arizona and Penn State to isolate and identify strains of toxic algae with the hope of discovering genetic markers determining toxicity. Their hope is to improve algae modelling by observing the extent of toxic blooms in comparison to the presence of certain genes.

"Many of the current models focus on physical conditions like water salinity and temperature to predict blooms. However, the genes responsible for toxicity may be responding not only to the physical environment, but also to the presence of vulnerable food sources," Wisecaver said in a University press release.

By studying toxicity and algae growth, Wisecaver and her associates hope to help lessen the disastrous impact of toxic algae blooms on waterway ecosystems.