Marine algae or green growth on the rocks on the seashore may hold the key to future protein intake of humankind.
An ongoing research in the Department of Biotechnology of Dr. V.S. Krishna PG and Degree College has noted that two species commonly found on the city seacoast – Caulerpa taxifolia and Caulerpa racemosa – are more than 50 per cent protein by volume apart from containing a number of micronutrients. The study on the nutritional aspects of marine algae is being done by research scholar K. Ambika under the guidance of S. Hara Sreeramulu.
Objective
There are 40 species of algae found on the seacoast from Bheemli to Gangavaram, and the study is being carried out only on three species of Caulerpa genus. The extracts have been found to be suitable for human consumption. Another objective of the study is to isolate bio-active compounds which could be useful in treatment of cancer, Ms. Ambika explains.
This is only one of the topics undertaken by 13 fulltime research scholars and 11 parttime scholars in the college. Six members of the faculty are qualified to guide students. The scholars are also recipients of UGC scholarship.
Research centre
Interestingly, this is the only government college in the State, which is recognised by an affiliating university as a research centre. This is the first affiliated college to get research centre status in 2010. Thereafter, Andhra University has bestowed the status on a few other colleges.
“ However, none of the colleges have so many scholars,” Dr. Sreeramulu, convener of the research programmes and Head of Department of Biotechnology, said. The college is recognised research centre in botany, chemistry, and biotechnology.
“Thanks to the encouragement and support of senior officers and our principal J.V.V.S.N. Murthy, we have been able to upgrade this college and get the status in 2010. It has been our endeavour to get the students interested in science research,” Dr. Sreeramulu said. Later, Andhra University granted the status to a few other colleges, mostly in the private sector, he added.
