Algae is Greater than Plastic
Location
CoLab, COM 105
Start Date
30-4-2026 8:15 AM
Document Type
Poster
Description
Every year more plastic is polluted into the environment, slowly ruining habitats. The goal of this research project is to cultivate an algae that can degrade plastic. The DNA has been introduced to the algae, the clones were then isolated. 16 clones were selected by use of antibiotics for some of the final stages of testing. Then the algae was tested for its ability to break down plastic. The data of the plastic degradation will be reported on. The impact this research will have on the environment could be revolutionary and a sustainable way to decrease the amount of plastic in the environment. This could even restore existing habitats that have been ruined by plastic pollution, slowly reducing the footprint humans have stomped onto the environment. We are planning to further test for protein expression and enzyme activity to ensure plastic degradation.
Image
Algae is Greater than Plastic
CoLab, COM 105
Every year more plastic is polluted into the environment, slowly ruining habitats. The goal of this research project is to cultivate an algae that can degrade plastic. The DNA has been introduced to the algae, the clones were then isolated. 16 clones were selected by use of antibiotics for some of the final stages of testing. Then the algae was tested for its ability to break down plastic. The data of the plastic degradation will be reported on. The impact this research will have on the environment could be revolutionary and a sustainable way to decrease the amount of plastic in the environment. This could even restore existing habitats that have been ruined by plastic pollution, slowly reducing the footprint humans have stomped onto the environment. We are planning to further test for protein expression and enzyme activity to ensure plastic degradation.
Comments
The faculty mentor for this project was Heather Seitz.