GloWolffia is a project by Isra J. Alam and Khalid K. Alam, Ph.D. to engineer the world’s smallest flowering plant, a group of species with the scientific name Wolffia (commonly known as “watermeal”).
The What
The goal of GloWolffia is to engineer a strain of Wolffia that visibly glows in the dark.
The Why
Through this effort, we hope to:
- Educate and inform the public on the potential of Wolffia
- Demonstrate the power of biotechnology with an accessible and replicable project
- Inspire the next generation of scientists and citizen science projects
The How
Using established and accessible tools for plant genetic engineering, we will introduce the DNA necessary for Wolffia to produce a fluorescent protein. If successful, production and accumulation of the fluorescent protein in the Wolffia plant will enable it to glow in the dark.
Through this website, we will document our efforts through a blog called “Notebook,” curate a set of “Resources” for Wolffia research, and share findings through a “Paper” for public peer-review and benefit.
Ethics statement: Wolffia and other duckweed plants are considered invasive species and pests in a variety of aquatic contexts. They grow rapidly and robustly and can outcompete other aquatic life for resources. In consideration, all GloWolffia project work will be performed in controlled indoor settings with safeguards to minimize any real or perceived risks.
Questions?
Contact us. Email hello@glowolffia.com.