Chapter 19, Problem 44A

Summary Introduction

To analyze:

The methods for the detection of the level of organisms responsible for red tides.

Introduction:

Red tides are caused when certain types of the algal population such as dinoflagellates explode and give rise to a phenomenon that is called an algal bloom. They are also referred to as harmful algal blooms or HABs. It results in the depletion of oxygen level and toxin release into the air.

Explanation of Solution

Several methods are used by scientists to detect the concentration of microorganisms present in the water causing red tide. Satellite imagery is one such technique allowing better tracking and monitoring of HABs.

Another method to detect red tide is Nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA). It is an isothermal method that employs the amplification of RNA that was previously used in clinical diagnostic tests.

Conclusion

Thus, Nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA) and satellite imagery method are used for the detection of the level of organisms resulting in the red tides.