Operation of UTEX Culture Collection of Algae

University Of Texas At Austin, Austin TX

Investigators

Abstract

This award renews support to the UTEX Culture Collection of Algae (UTEX) at the University of Texas at Austin. The UTEX algal collection includes a variety of mostly unicellular, freshwater algae, including diatoms and blue-green algae. The collection provides several thousand sample cultures every year to academic scientists (for basic research), to governmental agencies (for research and water quality analysis), to companies (for aquatic animal food, applied research, and biotechnology development), and to educators and students (for teaching and learning). Over 1600 UTEX strains are currently cryopreserved. Cryopreservation minimizes the cost of maintaining strains, and reduces the risk of genetic drift which may occur when strains are maintained using serial culture. The collection maintains a web site that includes a database listing all cultures in the collection, strain histories, and recipes for culture media. UTEX acts as a resource for information about the culture of algae, and provides opportunities for short-term visits to learn methods and techniques needed for use of algae in research. Awarded funds cover approximately two-thirds of the cost of operation of the collection with the remainder covered by the University and by user fees. Planned improvements within the next five years include cryopreservation of nearly all UTEX strains, development of a reservoir of whole genomic DNA, and addition of images of many UTEX algae to information provided on the web site.