Algae Research Supply: Algae Culture Chlorella vulgaris

$ 8.00

I caught our operations manager, Danielle, looking intensely at a flask of Chlorella she was swirling then said "this one is my favorite".  When asked why she responded, "Its a nice shade of green".  

 

Chlorella is a genus of single-cell green algae belonging to the phylum Chlorophyta. It is spherical in shape, about 2 to 10 μm in diameter, and is without flagella. Chlorella contains the green photosynthetic pigments chlorophyll-a and -b in its chloroplast. Through photosynthesis, it multiplies rapidly, requiring only carbon dioxide, water, sunlight, and a small amount of minerals to reproduce.

The name Chlorella is taken from the Greek, chloros, meaning green, and the Latin diminutive suffix ella, meaning small. German biochemist and cell physiologist Otto Heinrich Warburg, awarded with the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1931 for his research on cell respiration, also studied photosynthesis in Chlorella. In 1961, Melvin Calvin of the University of California received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research on the pathways of carbon dioxide assimilation in plants using Chlorella.

Many people believe Chlorella can serve as a potential source of food and energy because its photosynthetic efficiency can, in theory, reach 8%,comparable with other highly efficient crops such as sugar cane.

Chlorella is a Chlorophyte (Green algae) it is unicellular, without a flagella.   This culture requires a higher flux of light, but NOT direct sunlight.  Our media works great with this culture.  The best growth temperature is in the low 20s° C.

Each order of algae includes a Culturing Algae Manual.

Should I order a the CULTURE or the CULTURING KIT?  

The culture is just that- algae culture in a bottle.  

The culturing kit is (1) algae culture, (2) algae culturing salts, (3) algae culturing nutrients.

The KIT will get you to a total volume that is much greater than the initial volume of the culture. 

Algae Research Supply: Algae Culture Nannochloropsis

$ 8.00

Nannochloropsis is a genus of alga within the heterokont line of eukaryotes it is being investigated for biofuel production. Some Nannochloropsis species have been shown to be suitable for algal biofuel production due to its ease of growth and high oil content (28.7% of dry weight), mainly unsaturated fatty acids and a significant percentage of palmitic acid. It also contains enough unsaturated fatty acid linolenic acid and polyunsaturated acid (>4 double bonds) for a quality biodiesel.

Nannochloropsis is a bulldog of an algae strain.  It is great for science projects as it stays in suspension (it has a very negatively charged cell surface). 

Science project ideas include killing it by varying means (salt, chlorine bleach, too much light, heat, motor oil, sun screen...) or getting it to grow.  Consider measuring the density of the algae over time to quantify growth rate (use or secchi stick to do this.)

Nannochloropsis is another of our favorite algae to grow.  We like it for so many reasons we made bullet points!

• It is difficult to kill, allowing even rookies to seem like professionals
• Nannochloropsis is also euryhaline, which means that it can tolerate a wide range of salinity.  
• The cell surface is very negatively charged, meaning that it will repel it brother and sister cells.  The effect is that it stays in suspension (does not sink easily) very well.  
• Honestly, it is really pretty.  Very green and healthy looking.  Put a flask on your desk and it will grow happily and make you smile when you see it.  

Should I order a the CULTURE or the CULTURING KIT?  

The culture is just that- algae culture in a bottle.  

The culturing kit is (1) algae culture, (2) algae culturing salts, (3) algae culturing nutrients.

The KIT will get you to a total volume that is much greater than the initial volume of the culture. 

Algae Research Supply: Algae Culture Porphyridium cruentum

$ 8.00

The microalga Porphyridium sp. (Rhodophyta) is a potential source for several products like fatty acids, lipids, cell-wall polysaccharides and pigments. The polysaccharides of this species are sulphated and their structure gives rise to some unique properties that could lead to a broad range of industrial and pharmaceutical applications. Additionally, P. cruentum biomass contains carbohydrates of up to 57 % have been reported. Thus, the combined amount of carbohydrates in biomass and exopolysaccharides of this microalga could potentially provide the source for bio-fuel and pharmaceutical.

• Division: Rhodophyta (Red Algae)
• Water Type: Seawater
• Media: Use Algae Research Supply's Seawater Nutrient Media
• Commonly used for: aquarium feed, aquaculture, study photosynthesis, research, science fair projects
• This is one of the ONLY red microalgae. It is used by researchers to study the red protein based pigment phycoerythrine. Often used by the aquaculture community to bring RED color into filter feeders.

Algae Research Supply: Algae Culture Salts, Marine Algae

$ 3.50 $ 15.00

Algae Research Supply: Algae Culture, Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina)

$ 8.00

Spirulina holds a sweet spot in the heart of our company's founder. It was the first strain he worked with commercially. He almost got it tattooed on his back.

 

This is a clean culture of Arthrospira platensis.  It is grown in an alkali water (not seawater or freshwater) using spirulina nutrient media.

• Division: Cyanobacteria
• Water Type: Alkali Water
• Media: Use Algae Research Supply's Spirulina Nutrient Media
• Commonly used for: Human and animal consumption (although we recommend caution in eating any organism you culture youself, we offer no guarentee warantee or prediction of safety if you feed this to a human or animal)
• So much fun to grow. Easy to harvest (see Algae Research Supply's Spirulina Farming Kit). Great model organism to teach photosynthesis and aquaculture.

Should I order a the CULTURE or the CULTURING KIT?  

The culture is just that- algae culture in a bottle.  

The culturing kit is (1) algae culture, (2) algae culturing salts, (3) algae culturing nutrients.

The KIT will get you to a total volume that is much greater than the initial volume of the culture. 

Algae Research Supply: Algae Culture, Dunaliella salina

$ 8.00

• Division: Chlorophyta
• Water Type: Seawater
• Media: Use Algae Research Supply's Seawater Nutrient Media
• Commonly used for: aquarium feed, aquaculture, study photosynthesis, research, science fair projects
• Dunaliella is one of our EXTREMEOPHILES it can tolerate very high concentrations of dissolved salt. The algae is grown in large outdoor ponds to capitalize its production of a pigment beta carotene.

Algae Research Supply: Algae Culture, Tetraselmis

$ 8.00

• Division: Chlorophyta
• Water Type: Seawater
• Media: Use Algae Research Supply's Seawater Nutrient Media
• Commonly used for: aquarium feed, aquaculture, study photosynthesis, research, science fair projects
• Tetraselmis has been used for research into photosynthesis and cell division. More recently it has been grow for biofuels consideration.

Artificial Sea Water Kit, 500mL

$ 9.99

This kit is to make down 500mL of seawater for algae culure.  It contains salts and nutrients.  You will need to provide a 500mL bottle of drinking water.