Chinese scientists mull building "cell factory" of blue-green algae

STORY: Chinese scientists mull building "cell factory" of blue-green algae SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 12, 2024 DATELINE: Feb. 1, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:26 LOCATION: SHANGHAI, China CATEGORY: SCIENCE SHOTLIST: 1. various of Chinese scientists doing research in the lab 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): NI JUN, Researcher at Shanghai Jiao Tong University 3. various of Chinese scientists doing research in the lab 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): NI JUN, Researcher at Shanghai Jiao Tong University STORYLINE: Chinese scientists are considering building a biological "cell factory" of blue-green algae, in which air is the main raw material and the product is a range of organic compounds. These cells of blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, a kind of single-cell microorganism, have been modified using synthetic biotechnologies like gene editing. Featuring high reproduction speed and excellent efficiency of photosynthesis, they "eat" air and can produce organic compounds like glucose, sucrose, glycerol, resveratrol, and curcumin