Category Archives: Research

Probing a new algae species for clues into plant adaptation

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An investigation of the genome and phenome of a green alga called Chloroidium sp. UTEX 3007 has revealed, for the first time, certain adaptive traits that help algae acclimate to desert environments.

But what sets apart this new species, which scientists at the New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) have discovered and sequenced, from other types of green algae?

Nature Middle East talks to Kourosh Salehi-Ashtiani, associate professor of biology and managing director at the Center for Genomics and Systems Biology at NYUAD, to find out.

Nature Middle East: What does your new study add to the body of knowledge that we have of green microalgae?

Kourosh Salehi-Ashtiani: Green microalgae or Chlorophyta live in myriad forms and are believed to be the progenitors of land plants. Many scientists around the globe are involved in active research programs to understand the ecological roles of these organisms as well as to utilize them for biotechnology. Despite the importance of micro-algae, relatively few species have been profiled at the genomic and phenomic levels.

These species are mostly from temperate zones, with very little information available on any alga from the subtropical geographies, such as the environment of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Our study, however, sets a new standard for understanding the biology of micro-algae, and how Chloroidium has evolved to cope with the environmental challenges unique to the region.

NME: Was there anything particularly surprising about Chloroidium?

KSA: Yes. Its ability to thrive on both freshwater and high-salinity growth media and its ability to assimilate an array of uncommon carbon compounds for heterotrophic growth [which is growth through an energy pathway in which an organism that cannot manufacture its own food uses sunlight or inorganic compounds to produce carbohydrates, proteins and fats from carbon dioxide, in order to survive].

NME: Can you tell me more about your comparative study of Chloroidium and land plants?

KSA: Our phenomic and genomic data suggests that Chloroidium has a close relationship with higher plants and may live an intermittent epiphytic lifestyle, in other words, it may live on the surface of plants when such an opportunity arises. We show the Chloroidium is able to uptake many different sugars. Now, if you think where an alga is likely to find sources of sugar, plant and plant material become the most obvious candidates.

NME: In your paper you mention that Chloroidium harbors “unique protein families involved in osmotic stress tolerance and saccharide metabolism,” would you mind explaining this to our readers?

KSA: It is known that many organisms, when faced with increased osmolarity or typically high salt concentrations, they start to accumulate sugars internally. The Chloroidium’s genome contains unique genes implicated in the accumulation and breakdown of uncommon sugars. It hasn’t been previously known how organisms accumulate and break down these sugars; our study clarifies this.

NME: What are some of the future applications of your findings now that we have this new species, with a robust and flexible biology, especially with regards to conservation and understanding the effects of climate change?

KSA: In light of the environmental hazards befalling much of Southeast Asia that have been caused, at least partly, by razing high-biodiversity rainforests to cultivate oil palm, we chose to particularly emphasize Chloroidium’s ability to accumulate palm-like oil. The fatty acid profiles of oil palm or Elaies guiensis and Chloroidium are virtually identical.

NME: So this discovery may, in the future, help in providing an alternative to palm oil?

KSA: Definitely. Cultivation of oil palm has been associated with deforestation, if not devastation of rainforests in Southeast Asia. It’s why many European countries are banning the use of oil palm in their products. We think this alga may provide an environmentally-friendly alternative to cultivation of oil palms once further developed.

Under the microscope: Women & science

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Pursuing a science career in the Arab world is challenging, but women embarking on this path may face more hurdles than their male peers.

Why are there very few models of women scientist that young researchers can aspire to? Why do women hardly ever land top managerial jobs in universities and research centres?

On 27 March, 2014, and as part of Egypt’s Science Month, Nature Middle East and Nature magazine’s Arabic Edition hosted a panel discussion with four prominent women researchers, at the American University in Cairo, to explore the issues women in the science industry face, and look at success stories.

The panel included Nagwa El-Badri, the department chair of biomedical sciences at Zewail University of Science and Technology, Rania Siam, the chair of the department of biology at the AUC, Rehab Abdallah, a research assistant at AUC and Sara Serag El Deen, an AUC graduate studying for her PhD in Harvard University.

You can watch the full event now on our YouTube channel, and join in the discussion in the comments below. Do you agree that women scientists in the Arab world face more obstacles than men? And if so, then how do you propose we solve this?

Qatar’s peculiar research funding dilemma

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Qatar Foundation

{credit}Qatar Foundation{/credit}

While most countries around the world are dealing with shrinking budgets for science research, Qatar has a surplus that the small Gulf state doesn’t know what to do with.

A few years ago, Qatar pledged 2.8% of its annual GDP to science and research – more than any other Arab state. However, according to Faisal Alsuwaidi, president of Research and Development at Qatar Foundation, the country isn’t currently spending even 10% of that amount annually.

“Our current spending is a fraction of what is available. The reason is that we are still recruiting, we do not have enough manpower yet,” he says. “The latest statistics show that Qatar has about 600 scientists, we need to add 1500 more by the year 2018 to meet our research targets.”

While Alsuwaidi declined to give an exact number for the amount of money that Qatar is currently spending on science, he said it is substantial when compared to other states similar to Qatar in size and population. The budget pledged for science research will continue to increase year by year by 15-20% until they hit the 2.8% of GDP target, and he stressed there are no plans to decrease funding. “This would cut into our plans and that is the last thing Her Highness [Sheikha Moza bint Nasser] wants to see.”

While money is not holding back research and innovation in the rich Gulf state, Alsuwaidi acknowledges the real challenge Qatar Foundation is facing is changing the general culture. “In the Arab world we do not have a science culture. I come from industry and when I had an issue with my plant I contacted engineers or manufacturers, I didn’t call in scientists. We want to change that.”

Thomas Zacharia, executive vice president of Research and Development at Qatar Foundation, says this is the long-term plan that they are working on. “The research we are trying to build is a central part of how the country is moving forward. We have to do many things systemically, we are not going to get [a science culture] in one day. You have to do various things to make this successful.”

During this year’s Annual Research Conference in Qatar, Qatar Foundation announced its new research strategy – which focuses on three grand challenges they want to tackle through science by 2020: energy, water and cyber security.

“We thought there was a disconnect between the ambition of diversifying the economy of the country with the scope and scale of the research so what we did is focus the research in a particular way in order to achieve the goals of the country,” says Zacharia.

“I am very pleased with the outcome of this year’s strategy,” adds Alsuwaidi. “In theory it encompasses a number of objectives from last year and we are trying to hire experts of international renown. We are attracting international attention and we are making ourselves known internationally.”