Biology of Microalgae (MBI 280)

Algae represent a highly diverse consortium of polyphyletic, thallophytic, photosynthetic, and cryptogamic organisms. They are morphologically simple, chlorophyll-containing, non-flowering, and typically aquatic plants of a large family with members including seaweeds and a range of microscopic and unicellular to very large multicellular organisms. Algae are either prokaryotes or eukaryotes and lack vascular tissue, leaves, true stems, and roots. Microalgae are a promising renewable resource for biofuels, and optimization and control of the bio-mass growth production have gained economic and commercial interests. Algae do not compete with traditional food crops for space and resources. Microalgae are highly diverse and differences within and between both species and populations lead to significant differences in biogeography and the environment.