Edible Algae Models
Students make—and then eat!—algal cell models using apple juice and sodium alginate.Copyright 2016 Cristian Heredia, University of California Davis
Students make edible models of algal cells as a way to tangibly understand the parts of algae that are used to make biofuels. The molecular gastronomy techniques used in this activity blend chemistry, biology and food for a memorable student experience. The models use sodium alginate, which forms a gel matrix when in contact with calcium or moderate acid, to represent the complex-carbohydrate-composed cell walls of algae. Cell walls protect the algal cell contents and can be used to make biofuels, although they are more difficult to use than the starch and oils that accumulate in algal cells. The liquid juice interior of the algal models represents the starch and oils of algae, which are easily converted into biofuels.
Biological systems engineers use their knowledge of biology and the various types of chemicals and plant structures to engineer renewable energy sources like biofuels. During this activity, students use chemistry to make an edible model of an algal cell that represents the starch and oils (materials easy to convert into biofuels) and cell walls of algae (more difficult to convert into biofuels).
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Identify the parts of algae that can be made into biofuels.
- Explain that engineers need to know what the cell wall is made of in order to make biofuels easily.
- Describe how engineers—and students—use models to help them understand complex structures and problems.