TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Bioreactor: The second amount of light has at least one of a light intensity, an illumination intensity, a light-emitting pattern, a peak emission wavelength, an on-pulse duration, and a pulse frequency different than the first amount of light. The second amount of light is the same as the first amount of light. One or more light emitting substrates are configured to supply an amount of light to a substantial portion of the photosynthetic organisms retained in the isolated space. An amount of light comprises an amount to sustain a biomass concentration having an optical density (CD) value greater than from 0.1-17.5 g/l. An amount of light comprises an amount to sustain a photosynthetic organism density greater than 1 or 5 gram of photosynthetic organism per liter of cultivation media. An amount of light comprises an amount to sustain a photosynthetic organism density of 1-15 grams of photosynthetic organisms per liter of cultivation media. One or more light emitting substrates are configured to provide an amount of light comprising one or more peak emissions associated with the absorption spectra of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b. One or more light emitting substrates include light emitting diodes (LEDs), where LEDs comprise: a peak emission wavelength of 440-660 nm, an on-pulse duration of 1 ps to 10 s; and a pulse frequency of 1 ps to 10 s. One or more light emitting substrates includes LEDs in the form of at least one LED array. At least one of the one or more light-emitting substrates include optical waveguides to provide optical communication between a source of light located in exterior of the bioreactor and the first lighting system received in the isolated space. At least one of the one or more the light-emitting substrates include optical fibers. The first lighting system further comprises at least a first illumination intensity level and a second illumination intensity level different that the first, and where the one or more light-emitting substrates are configured to provide at least a first and a second light-emitting pattern. The first lighting system further comprises at least one optical waveguide, on the exterior surface of the container, optically coupled to the first lighting system, the at least one optical waveguide configured to provide optical communication between a source of solar energy and the first lighting system received in the isolated space. The first lighting system further comprises a solar collector; and a solar concentrator optically coupled to the solar collector and the first lighting, the solar concentrator configured to concentrated solar energy provided by the solar collector and configured to provide the concentrated solar energy to the first lighting system received in the isolated space. One or more light emitting substrates are encapsulated in a medium having a first index (n1) of refraction arid the growth medium has a second index of refraction (n2) such that the differences between n1 and n2, at a give wavelength selected from a spectrum of 440-660 nm, is less than 1. The bioreactor further comprises a controller configured to control at least one of a light intensity, an illumination intensity, a light-emitting pattern, a peak emission wavelength, an on-pulse duration, and a pulse frequency associated with the light-emitting substrates based on a measured optical density of the photosynthetic organisms and cultivation media. The bioreactor further comprises one or more sensors operable to determine at least one of a temperature, a pressure, a light intensity, an optical density, a gas content, a pH, a fluid level, and a sparging gas flow rate; and a controller configured to control at least one of an illumination intensity, an illumination pattern, a peak emission wavelength, an on-pulse duration, and a pulse frequency based on a sensed temperature, pressure, light intensity, optical density, gas content, pH, fluid level, or sparging gas flow rate. The photosynthetic organisms are prokaryotic algae or eukaryotic algae. The photosynthetic organisms are selected from one or more micro-algae. The bioreactor further comprises at least one gas source in flow communication with the isolated space. The bioreactor further comprises a second lighting system adjacent to the exterior surface of the container, the second lighting system comprising at least one light-emitting substrate configured to provide light to at least some of the plurality of photosynthetic organisms retained in the isolated space and located proximate to a portion of the interior surface of the container. A substantial portion of the container comprises a transparent or translucent material that allows light to pass from the exterior surface to a plurality of photosynthetic organisms and cultivation media retained in the isolated space. A substantial portion of the container comprises transparent or translucent material selected from glasses, PYREX(RTM: Not defined) glasses, plexi-glasses, acrylics, polymethacrylates, plastics, or their polymers, or combinations or composites. A bioreactor configured to increase a light exposure of photosynthetic organisms located in the bioreactor, the bioreactor comprising (i) at least a first level to support a first surface layer of photosynthetic organisms, (ii) a second level to support a second surface layer of photosynthetic organisms, the first level physically separated from the second level, and (iii) a lighting system arranged to direct a first amount of light toward the first surface layer of photosynthetic organisms and further arranged to direct a second amount of light toward the second surface layer of photosynthetic organisms. The first surface layer of photosynthetic organisms comprises algae from a first phyla and the second surface layer of photosynthetic organisms comprises algae from a second phyla. The first and second surface layers of photosynthetic organisms comprise algae from the same phyla. The first level physically separated from the second level includes a structural partition positioned within the bioreactor to separate the respective levels. The lighting system directs artificial light toward the respective surface layers of photosynthetic organisms in the bioreactor. The lighting system directs natural light toward the respective surface layers of the photosynthetic organisms in the bioreactor. The bioreactor further comprises a solar collector system coupled to the lighting system, the solar collector configured to receive sunlight; where the lighting system directs at least a portion of the received sunlight toward the respective surface layers of the photosynthetic organisms in the bioreactor. Preferred Method: Providing light energy to a substantial portion of a plurality of photosynthetic organisms in liquid growth media within a bioreactor comprises:(A) providing a bioreactor containment structure having an interior surface, the interior surface defining an isolated space configured to house a plurality of photosynthetic organisms and liquid growth media;(B) providing light-energy-supplying substrates having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, the first and the second sides including one or more light-energy-supplying elements that form part of a light-energy-supplying area, the light-energy-supplying substrates received within the isolated space of the bioreactor;(C) vertically mixing the photosynthetic organisms included in the liquid growth media; and(D) supplying an amount of light energy from the light- energy-supplying substrates to a substantial portion of the photosynthetic organisms in the bioreactor.The method further comprises axially mixing the photosynthetic organisms included in the liquid growth media. The method further comprises agitating the photosynthetic organisms in liquid growth media during photosynthesis. Increasing a ratio of light-emitting-area to a photobioreactor-volume interface of a photobioreactor comprises:(A) directing an effluent stream to the photobioreactor, the photobioreactor comprising a structure having an inner surface defining a photobioreactor volume;(B) separating the effluent stream to direct one portion of the effluent stream to a first region of the photobioreactor, the first region comprising a first amount of algae and to direct another portion of the effluent stream to a second region of the photobioreactor, the second region comprising a second amount of algae; and(C) directing light from a light source toward at least some of the algae in the bioreactor to encourage a photosynthetic reaction in the algae, the light source comprising one or more light-emitting elements including a first and a second light-emitting area, the first and the second light-emitting areas forming part of a light-emitting-area to photobioreactor-volume interface.The effluent stream includes the first amount and the second amount of algae. The first amount of algae is a first type of algae and the second amount of algae is a different type of algae. The method further comprises agitating the algae during photosynthesis. Directing light from the light source includes directing natural light from a fiber optic network. Directing light from the light source includes directing light from a LED. The method further comprises receiving sunlight in a solar collector. Cultivating algae in a bioreactor comprises placing a first species and a second species of algae together in a portion of the bioreactor, where the first species includes a first light absorption capacity and the second species includes a second light absorption capacity, and controllably directing light toward the first and second species of algae. Directing the light includes directing light having a first wavelength. Directing light having a first wavelength includes controllably selecting the wavelength of the light to increase a number of photosynthetic reactions in the first and second species of algae. Preferred System: The bio-system further comprises an extraction system coupled to the bioreactor to extract lipid, a medical compound, and/or a labeled compound from the algae within the bioreactor. The extraction system includes at least a press to urge the lipid from the algae. The extraction system includes a centrifuge. The extraction system comprises an extractant selected from chemical solvents, supercritical gases or liquids, hexane, acetone, liquid petroleum products, and primary alcohols. The bio-system further comprises a conversion system for converting the lipid to biofuel, where the conversion system receives the lipid from the extraction system, where the conversion system includes a transesterification catalyst and an alcohol. The bio-system further comprises a temperature sensor positioned within a first region of the bioreactor, where the control system monitors and controls the temperature sensor. The bio-system further comprises an optical density measurement device to measure a concentration of the algae. The light source comprises LEDs. The light source comprises a solar collector. The lighting system comprises a network of fiber optic waveguides and optical switches, where the network is coupled to the solar collector. The bio-system further comprises at least one or more filters arranged in the bioreactor for filtering particulates from the effluent stream containing at least some of the algae. EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.