Viral Genetics aims at biofuels with algal oil technology, new subsidiary

In California, Viral Genetics has formed VG Energy as a subsidiary tat will market the company’s biofuel technology, which it said can increase the yield of oil production from algae by as much as 300%. “We can manipulate plant cells so that they store oil and eventually release those reserves instead of burning the fat for fuel when glucose stores are low.

The end result is more oil is available for processing into a biofuel.”VG Energy lead researcher, Dr. M. Karen Newell-Rogers, recently obtained a $750,000 grant from the fund to study and develop the yield-enhancing technology in her academic research laboratories at the Texas AgriLife Research Blacklands campus.

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