CSBR: Operation of a Culture Collection of Algae

德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校(UTEX)的藻类培养收藏是世界上为数不多的数量非常大、种类繁多的公共活藻类收藏之一。许多UTEX藻类都是不可替代的。每年，数以千计的活文化被以适中的价格送到美国各地和其他地方的科学家、教育工作者和学生手中。随着最近认识到微型藻类作为运输燃料、人类食物、动物饲料和许多其他用途的潜在来源，UTEX藻类和服务已成为数百个应用研究项目的主要资源。UTEX保持着积极的项目，以超低温保存有价值的物种，并根据其独特的DNA标记对每个不同的菌株进行特征描述。UTEX的国家服务包括为寻求更多专业知识的高级学生和专业人员举办一次双月一次的藻类培养实践研讨会，一个互动网站www.utex.org，一个物种鉴定服务，以及与开展藻类科学项目的学生进行广泛的通信。在当地，UTEX人员访问公立学校进行演讲，并邀请他们访问UTEX设施，协助教师和学生开展高中科学项目，并在该机构的两个主要开放日活动上向数百名儿童介绍藻类的科学重要性。

The Culture Collection of Algae at the University of Texas at Austin (UTEX) is one of only a handful of very large and diverse public collections of living algae in the world. Many kinds of UTEX algae are irreplaceable. Every year thousands of living cultures are sent at modest charge to scientists, educators, and students throughout the U.S. and elsewhere. With the recently recognized potential of microscopic algae as a source of transportation fuel, human food, animal feed and many other uses, UTEX algae and services have become a major resource for hundreds of applied research projects. UTEX maintains active programs to cryopreserve valuable species and to characterize each distinct strain according to its unique DNA signature.National services of UTEX include a bi-monthly hands-on workshop on managing algal cultures for advanced students and professionals who seek additional expertise, an interactive web site www.utex.org, a species-identification service, and extensive correspondence with students who conduct algal-based science projects. Locally, UTEX personnel visit public school for presentations and invite their visit to UTEX facilities, assist teachers and students in conducting high-school science projects, and provide presentations on the scientific importance of algae to hundreds of children at two major open-house events at this institution.