How Scientists Are Studying Algae Genes to Grow More Omega-3s Sustainably

This review paper looks at marine microalgae — the tiny ocean organisms that naturally produce omega-3 fats like EPA and DHA — and examines the genes and enzymes they use to build these fatty acids. Researchers are interested in these genes because microalgae are considered a more sustainable source of omega-3s than traditional fish oil, since they can be grown in controlled systems without depleting ocean fish stocks.

The authors summarize recent progress in using genetic engineering and biotechnology tools to transfer these algae genes into other organisms, such as land-based oilseed crops and microbes, with the goal of getting those organisms to produce EPA and DHA as well. This kind of approach could eventually expand where and how omega-3 fatty acids are produced.

The paper also discusses ongoing challenges, such as fine-tuning how these biological pathways are regulated, optimizing algae strains for efficiency, and determining whether these engineering approaches can realistically be scaled up for commercial production.