Sean Macdonald Miller
Project Title: Enhancing pigment content in a model diatom using random mutagenesis and high-throughput sequencing.
Supervisors: Mathieu Pernice, Andrei Herdean, Peter Ralph, Raffaela Abbriano (Honorary)
Contact Detail: Sean.A.MacdonaldMiller@student.uts.edu.au
Project Background: Microalgal biotechnology shows great promise as a contributor to many areas of the green economy. My project utilises a model alga to explore random mutagenesis approaches to improving these organisms to make them more effective in industry.
Project Aims: This project employs random mutagenesis techniques to create novel strains from the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum (CCAP 1055/1), and further characterizes the mutations that impact cell physiology, pigment synthesis, and any other factors contributing to changes in cellular pigment content.