„Auf natürliche Weise umprogrammiert“ - Mehrzellige Cyanobakterien ermöglichen effiziente Herstellung von Biotreibstoffen - Campus-Report am 25.08.20202

Strictly speaking, it is not algae, what grows as a bluish green coating on the coastal rocks that are tumbled by waves, for example on the island of Helgoland. It is cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria can excrete dangerous toxins. However, cyanobacteria can also be used to produce biofuels such as ethanol directly from sunlight. And this without blocking valuable arable land like maize or rapeseed. A research team at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology has now succeeded for the first time in reprogramming multicellular cyanobacteria. This means that highly efficient and, at the same time, sustainable production of biofuels is within reach.