nyu abu dhabi researchers identify unique uae green algae with properties
Friday 25 July 2025
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

NYU Abu Dhabi researchers identify unique UAE green algae with properties

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleNYU Abu Dhabi researchers identify unique UAE green algae with properties

NYU Abu Dhabi researchers identify unique UAE green algae with properties
Abu Dhabi - Musimchronicle

Researchers at New York University Abu Dhabi, NYUAD, in collaboration with other groups, have discovered that the unique genomic traits that allow local green algae to survive in a desert climate may have far-reaching potential for biotechnical applications.

"The alga belongs to the Chloroidium genus, which we repeatedly isolated from various locations in the UAE," said Kourosh Salehi-Ashtiani, Associate Professor of Biology at NYUAD.

"It has demonstrated particularly diverse properties to suit its surrounding climate, being able to grow in fresh water as well as waters with twice the salinity of seawater, in addition to being able to grow both auto-trophically like plants and hetero-trophically like fungi or animal cells," he explained.

The study provides insight into the adaptations that this alga has made for it to succeed in this region and concludes that its extensive properties make Chloroidium an ideal candidate for environmental developments.

"Among these unique attributes are an ability to consume a broad range of carbon sources, including desiccation tolerance-promoting sugars and the accumulation of unusually large stores of palmitate. The high concentration of palmitic acid promotes a similar composition of Chloroidium oil to that of palm oil," said David Nelson, NYUAD research scientist and lead author of the study, which is now published in 'eLife'.

"Being a high-value oil with a global production of up to 60 million metric tonnes per year, palm oil cultivation has previously been associated with deforestation and the devastation of rainforests throughout Asia, raising significant environmental concerns as many European markets are now banning the use of oil palm in their products," Salehi-Ashtiani explained.

"We believe this alga may provide an environmentally sound alternative to the cultivation of palm oil once it is further developed, and can be of both commercial and environmental benefit to pursue with extensive investigations."

Comparison has already been made between Chloroidium and other sequenced green algae, revealing the singular nature of the robust and flexible biology utilised by a green alga to successfully inhabit the harsh environment of the UAE’s desert coastline and identifying it as a lucrative subject for further study.

themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

nyu abu dhabi researchers identify unique uae green algae with properties nyu abu dhabi researchers identify unique uae green algae with properties

 



Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

GMT 14:26 2012 Wednesday ,15 February

Raja Hassan Khalifa: Sudanese women key to growth

GMT 08:26 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Five things to know about Davos

GMT 10:07 2017 Wednesday ,01 November

Yergin: ‘Saudi Arabia is on the cusp of history’

GMT 11:08 2017 Wednesday ,29 March

Sweden in suspense over Bob Dylan's Nobel lecture

GMT 11:24 2017 Monday ,11 December

Saad Eddine El Othmani Elected New Leader of the PJD

GMT 02:46 2012 Wednesday ,05 September

Fruits for your skin and hair

GMT 06:23 2016 Saturday ,23 April

China hopes to reach Mars in 2021

GMT 09:14 2012 Tuesday ,15 May

Sony Radio Academy awards winners

GMT 19:20 2012 Wednesday ,12 September

Travel in luxurious style with Ferragamo

GMT 17:40 2016 Wednesday ,16 November

Eurozone chief rules out 'impossible' UK Brexit demands

GMT 17:18 2016 Wednesday ,23 March

Leadership Development a Prime Focus

GMT 13:12 2016 Tuesday ,17 May

From legendary boxer Duran in Cannes

GMT 11:17 2016 Thursday ,08 December

New golf Asian Tour CEO praises Europe deal

GMT 20:51 2017 Tuesday ,28 March

Mauritanian president leaves for Amman

GMT 09:26 2015 Tuesday ,22 September

New branch for Sinai University inaugurated

GMT 13:14 2012 Saturday ,21 January

Grant him immunity
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
 
 Themuslimchronicle Facebook,themuslimchronicle facebook  Themuslimchronicle Twitter,themuslimchronicle twitter Themuslimchronicle Rss,themuslimchronicle rss  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle