Developing a stable genetic transformation system for Ulva.

绿海莴苣属是具有生态和工业利益。某些物种与沿海环境中的快速繁殖有关，形成生态破坏性的绿潮。由于这种快速的增长速度，它们也具有工业价值，因为可以快速获得高水平的生物量。因此，Ulva是生物燃料生产和水产养殖的一种食物来源。为了进一步开发Ulva，需要对其细胞生物学和生命周期有更深入的了解。因此，需要分子方法来了解感兴趣的基因的功能。突变乌尔瓦（Ulva mutabilis）的基因组最近已经发表，这将为功能基因组研究的设计提供宝贵的信息。这个研究项目的目标是在Ulva建立一个稳定的转化系统，因为对海藻进行基因改造的尝试明显落后于植物生物技术。

Green sea lettuce of the genus Ulva are of both ecological and industrial interest. Certain species are associated with rapid proliferation in coastal environments, forming of ecologically devastating green tides. Due to this rapid growth rate they are also of industrial interest, as high levels of biomass can be obtained rapidly. As such, Ulva is of interest for biofuel production and as a food source in aquaculture. For further exploitation of Ulva a greater understanding of their cell biology and life cycle is required. Therefore a molecular approach is required, to understand the function of genes of interest. The genome of Ulva mutabilis has recently been published, which will provide invaluable information for the design of functional genomic studies. This research project will aim to establish a stable transformation system in Ulva, as attempts to genetically modify seaweed significantly lag behind those in plant biotechnology.