Sustainable life support for Martian and lunar exploration: genetic engineering and extra-terrestrial cultivation of edible cyanobacterium
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Cell and Developmental Biology
Abstract
A mission to Mars and the establishment of a base on the moon are envisaged in the next few decades. However, supplying all consumables, such as food, from Earth is impractical and prohibitively expensive. A major challenge is therefore the development of sustainable technologies for food production on spacecraft and within bases. The edible cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis has been proposed as one such foodstuff given its rapid growth, nutritional value and efficiency of CO2 conversion into biomass. This project will explore the potential of A. platensis and focus on: i) metabolic engineering to add essential nutrients and improve palatability; ii) design of a photobioreactor for efficient cultivation; iii) modelling of growth performance under mission conditions.
Organisations
Publications
Hoqani UA
(2022)
Over-expression of a cyanobacterial gene for 1-deoxy-d-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase in the chloroplast of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii perturbs chlorophyll: carotenoid ratios.
in Journal of King Saud University. Science
Mapstone LJ
(2022)
Cyanobacteria and microalgae in supporting human habitation on Mars.
in Biotechnology advances
Studentship Projects
Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BB/M009513/1 | 30/09/2015 | 31/03/2024 | |||
1902653 | Studentship | BB/M009513/1 | 30/09/2017 | 30/01/2022 | Lydia Mapstone |
Description | Company of Biologists Travel Fund. |
Amount | £350 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Company of Biologists Travel Fund |
Organisation | Society for Experimental Biology (SEB) |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | Global |
Start | 04/2019 |
End | 07/2019 |