Photosynthesis is a process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy that can later be released to fuel their activities through cellular respiration. A new research study at Tel Aviv University — along with research at the Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology in Germany — has successfully tracked the photosynthetic properties of the Chlorella ohadii, a type of green algae considered to be the fastest-growing plant cell. This discovery will play an important role in future studies in the fields of agriculture, and more specifically, sustainable food.
Quote: “Using comparative analysis, the researchers saw that there was a fundamental difference in the photosynthetic processes carried out in green algae compared to the model plants. They determined that the difference lies in variations in the metabolic networks, a deeper understanding of which will help in developing innovative engineering solutions in the field of plant metabolism, as well as the optimal engineering of future agricultural products.”
Source: Wikipedia (introduction), The Jerusalem Post (introduction and quotation)
Learn more about photosynthesis from Wikipedia. ►
Learn more about Tel Aviv University from Wikipedia. ►
Read “TAU helps crack mystery of photosynthesis in fast-growing algae” ►
Photo: Learning Center — Home Science Tools
We welcome your comments. Click here.