Microalgae are globally important primary producers that use light energy and CO2 to generate biomass and valuable bio-products. These organisms grow in simple media solutions, requiring only light, CO2, and some trace minerals while requiring no complex additives compared to mammalian expression systems. 

Expanding capacities in genetic engineering in algal hosts offers incentives for the development of low-cost bio-processes using these photosynthetic eukaryotes and a wide range of opportunities for tailoring production of medicinal products. We developed a novel transgene design strategy for the microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii through synthetic intron incorporation. 

This presentation will overview prospects for customized terpenoid and recombinant protein expression targets, and deliver a vision for future development of low-cost algal synthetic biotechnology as it applies to the medical field.