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大型和多样化的活藻类公共收藏之一。许多UTEX藻类是不可替代的。每年，成千上万的现存文化以低廉的价格被送到美国和其他地方的科学家、教育工作者和学生手中。随着最近人们认识到微型藻类作为运输燃料、人类食品、动物饲料和许多其他用途的潜力，UTEX藻类和服务已成为数百个应用研究项目的主要资源。UTEX保持积极的计划，以冷冻保存有价值的物种，并根据其独特的DNA特征来描述每个不同的菌株。UTEX的全国服务包括为寻求额外专业知识的高级学生和专业人员举办的管理藻类培养的双月实践研讨会，一个互动网站www.utex.org，一种物种鉴定服务，以及与从事藻类科学项目的学生的广泛通信。在当地，UTEX的工作人员访问公立学校进行演讲，并邀请他们参观UTEX的设施，协助教师和学生进行高中科学项目，并在该机构的两次大型开放活动中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.