Ekstremofilne mikroalge in njihova uporaba v biotehnologiji

• Main Author: Domevščik, Barbara
• Other Authors: Jamnik, Polona
• Format: Bachelor Thesis
• Language: Slovenian
• Published: B. Domevščik 2021
• Subjects: mikroalge; biotehnologija; ekstremofili; fotoavtotrofi; microalgae; biotechnology; extremophiles; photoautotrophs; info:eu-repo/classification/udc/606:62:502:602.3:582.2/.3:604.2/.4(043.2); Dane; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?id=125125; https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?id=140795&dn=; https://plus.si.cobiss.net/opac7/bib/59429891?lang=sl

V zadnjih desetletjih se vedno bolj širi zavedanje o uporabnosti mikroalg. K temu prispeva tudi odkrivanje novih vrst, ki naseljujejo, na prvi pogled, nemogoče življenjske habitate. To so ekstremofilne mikroalge, ki jih najdemo v raznih okoljih, vse od vročih termalnih vrelcev do zmrznjenih pokrajin Antarktike. Preživetje jim omogoča njihova neverjetna spodobnost prilaganja na dane razmere ter evolucijska pot, ki je vodila v razvoj izjemno morfološko in fiziološko različnih organizmov. Ti unikatni naseljenci našega planeta imajo v sebi mnoge skrite potenciale, ki bi bili lahko koristni tako za človeštvo, kot tudi za ostale oblike življenja na Zemlji. Z razširjanjem našega znanja o tej zaenkrat še premalo izkoriščeni bioti, se širi tudi zavedanje o njihovi vsestranski uporabnosti, ki je več kot potrebna za rešitev trenutnega stanja na planetu. Mikroalge namreč predstavljajo nove možnosti za izjemen vir hranil, ki sodijo med nepogrešljiv del naše hrane in živalske krme. Poleg tega, so poceni tovarne za pridelavo spojin, ki imajo visoko vrednost v farmacevtski, prehranski in kozmetični industriji. Obenem nam omogočajo zmanjšanje emisij atmosferskega CO2, medtem ko se istočasno uporabljajo za proizvodnjo biogoriva ali čiščenje onesnaženih voda. Skratka, možnosti, ki jih ponujajo, so res številčne in izjemno perspektivne za ustvarjanje bolj svetle prihodnosti. In recent decades, awareness of the usefulness of microalgae has grown. This is also due to the discovery of new species that inhabit extreme habitats. Extremophilic microalgae are found in a variety of environments, ranging from hot thermal springs to frozen wastelands of Antarctica. Their survival is made possible by their incredible ability to adapt, which resulted in evolutionary path that led to the development of extremely morphologically and physiologically diverse organisms. These unique inhabitants of our planet have many hidden potentials that could be useful for humanity as well as other life forms on planet Earth. By increasing our knowledge about this underappreciated biota, we are also increasing awareness of their versatility, which could potentially help us tackle problems faced by the humanity. Namely, microalgae represent new possibilities for an exceptional source of nutrients, which currently form the core part of our food and animal feed. In addition, they can be used as cheap factories to produce high value compounds useful in the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries. They allow us to reduce atmospheric CO2 emissions, while at the same time being able to produce biofuel or purify polluted water. In short, the opportunities they offer are numerous and worth exploring.