Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi,
I am trying to find a mentor who can help me, with this research. The link I have attached, is summary of what I would like to achieve in this research.
http://prezi.com/mppqtrvaump4/untitled-prezi/
Thank you,
Susan

Hi Susan,

Sci Buddies acts as your virtual mentor to guide you in choosing, doing and evaluating your science project. Your project goal says you want to develop a good method for producing fuel from algae. Many scientists and companies are working on this right now so you have picked a very hot area to do experiments in.

When you say that you are looking for a mentor, do you mean someone with a lab that you can work in or an online advisor like us? Doing experiments with growing algae under various conditions and testing them for 'fuel' production is not that difficult but does require some lab equipment. You can buy the supplies and set up an algae 'test kitchen' at home but it would be much easier to do it in a lab.

Please post again with details about specifically what you would like to do. If you live near a college or university, you can ask someone in the biology department if you could be a summer volunteer in their lab and do some algae research. Most scientists are happy to have enthusiastic summer students like yourself and you can really learn a lot by being around working scientists and technicians.

I can help you with your project if you will describe your hypothesis and how you plan to test it. The SciBuddies website has a lot of helpful general information about developing a project if you need it and I can advise you on details.

Best wishes,

SciB

Hi SciB,
Thanks for your post. I am looking for a mentor with a lab for my project. I have tried to email all of the colleges near me, and unfortunately they could not help me. I believe that in order to be able to create the most viable strain of algae, I believe that if there could be a plasmid transfer between an archea and an algae in order for it to survive in harsh conditions. What I believe that solution to reproduction rate is either, a bacterial plasmid transfer or weakening to the cell wall in order for the accessibility of the biofuel to largely overshadow the moderate growth rate.

I believe that the other steps of my research can wait as I need to test this theory out.

Thank you,
Susan

Hi Susan,

What you are proposing--to genetically engineer an alga using archaebacterial genes has a lot of potential but is also pretty darn difficult. Finding the right gene sequences to make a strain of algae produce more fuel with higher viability is something biotech companies would be wild about. Are you familiar with a strain of algae called Botryococcus braunii that is reputed to produce up to 75% oil - http://fiehnlab.ucdavis.edu/staff/kumar/Botryococcus/

Also, see the Youtube video showing B braunii oil content: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lmSLmcUH90

Scientists all over the world are working with B braunii and other algal strains to make them grow more cheaply and abundantly using nutrients available anywhere. Genetic engineering is one of the techniques they are using to do this.

You said you were unsuccessful in finding a college or university lab to work in, but don't give up. Have you done lab work before? Are you a topnotch science student? Have you won a prize at a science fair for a project? I'm suggesting that you need to emphasize your talents and the fact that you will work for free in order to get the experience. Don't email. It's too easy for a busy professor to simply delete it or maybe it ended up in their spam folder. Do some research on the college or university in the biology, engineering or environmental sciences department and come up with a list of people whose research may be somewhat related to what you want to do. Then call them on the phone, introduce yourself and briefly say that you are a bright, enthusiastic high school science student who wants lab experience. Don't go into your project. That can come later. Just say you are interested in biofuels and willing to help out in the lab doing whatever that needs to be done in order to learn the science.

Good luck in this project. You have a good idea and I hope you can test it. Please keep posting to SciBuddies to let us know your plans and how we can help you.

All the best,

SciB