Developing a stable genetic transformation system for Ulva.

石莼属的绿色海莴苣具有生态和工业价值。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色潮汐。由于这种快速的生长速度，它们也具有工业兴趣，因为可以快速获得高水平的生物质。因此，石莼对于生物燃料生产和作为水产养殖的食物来源是有意义的。为了进一步开发石莼，需要更好地了解其细胞生物学和生命周期。因此，需要一种分子方法来了解感兴趣的基因的功能。最近，已公布了可变石莼的基因组，这将为设计功能基因组研究提供宝贵的信息。该研究项目的目标是在石莼中建立稳定的转化系统，因为对海藻进行遗传修饰的尝试远远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.