THE WORLD OF CYANOBACTERIA: THEIR LONG JOURNEY ON OUR PLANET AND THEIR POTENTIAL
10 SEP 2023
Time: 11:00
Capacity: 25 people
Access: Entrance through the Quinta gate – Rua Bartolomeu Velho, n.º 141
Panoramic Room – Quinta de Serralves
Access is free of charge, but subject to compulsory registration via the link
Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic prokaryotic organisms that have existed for more than 3.5 billion years and have played a crucial role in the evolution of planet Earth. They can be found in different environments and regions, from aquatic environments (oceans, rivers, lakes) to terrestrial environments (soils, buildings), surviving in extreme environments such as deserts, glaciers, hot springs or salt flats. More than 5,000 species of cyanobacteria are currently recognised, and it is estimated that this figure could be much higher, as many areas of our planet have not yet been sufficiently explored in terms of microbial diversity. These organisms have the capacity to produce a wide variety of bioactive compounds, with the potential to be used in different applications, from medicine to agriculture and the pharmaceutical industry.
In this talk, we will explore the importance of cyanobacteria, their origin, diversity, applications and potential and address some questions, such as: will compounds obtained from cyanobacteria make it possible to respond to some of today’s societal challenges, such as health and agriculture? Could these organisms be a food in the future? Are cyanobacteria important on the planet today and in future space exploration?
Researcher: João Morais (CIIMAR)
More about the event at LINK.
