Editing Microalgae (section)

{{Short description|Microscopic algae}}
[[File:CSIRO ScienceImage 10697 Microalgae.jpg|300px|thumb|upright=1.0| ''[[Nannochloropsis]]'' microalgae]]
[[File:CSIRO ScienceImage 2970 Collection of microalgae cultures.jpg|300px|thumb|upright=1.0|Collection of microalgae cultures in [[CSIRO]]'s lab]]

'''Microalgae''' or '''microphytes''' are [[microscopic scale|microscopic]] [[algae]] invisible to the [[naked eye]]. They are [[phytoplankton]] typically found in [[freshwater]] and [[marine life|marine]] systems, living in both the [[water column]] and [[sediment]].<ref name=Thurman /> They are [[unicellular organism|unicellular]] species which exist individually, or in chains or groups. Depending on the species, their sizes can range from a few micrometers (μm) to a few hundred micrometers. Unlike higher plants, microalgae do not have roots, stems, or leaves.<ref name="phys"/> They are specially adapted to an environment dominated by viscous forces.

Microalgae, capable of performing [[photosynthesis]], are important for life on earth; they produce approximately half of the atmospheric oxygen<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/scienceshow/microscopic-algae-produce-half-the-oxygen-we-breathe/5041338|title=Microscopic algae produce half the oxygen we breathe|date=25 October 2013|publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]]|last=Williams|first=Robyn|work=The Science Show|author-link=Robyn Williams|access-date=11 November 2020}}</ref> and use the [[greenhouse gas]] carbon dioxide to grow photoautotrophically. "Marine photosynthesis is dominated by microalgae, which together with [[cyanobacteria]], are collectively called [[phytoplankton]]."<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Parker |first1=Micaela S. |last2=Mock |first2=Thomas |last3=Armbrust |first3=E. Virginia |year=2008 |title=Genomic Insights into Marine Microalgae |journal=[[Annual Review of Genetics]] |volume=42 |pages=619–645 |doi=10.1146/annurev.genet.42.110807.091417 |pmid=18983264}}</ref> Microalgae, together with bacteria, form the base of the [[food web]] and provide energy for all the [[Trophic level|trophic levels]] above them. Microalgae [[biomass]] is often measured with [[Chlorophyll a|chlorophyll ''a'']] concentrations and can provide a useful index of potential production.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Thrush|first1=Simon|last2=Hewitt|first2=Judi|author-link2=Judi Hewitt|last3=Gibbs|first3=Max|last4=Lundquist|first4=Caralyn|last5=Norkko|first5=Alf|date=2006|title=Functional Role of Large Organisms in Intertidal Communities: Community Effects and Ecosystem Function|url=|journal=Ecosystems|volume=9|issue=6|pages=1029–1040|doi=10.1007/s10021-005-0068-8|bibcode=2006Ecosy...9.1029T |s2cid=23502276}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Sun |first1=Ning |last2=Skaggs |first2=Richard L. |last3=Wigmosta |first3=Mark S. |last4=Coleman |first4=André M. |last5=Huesemann |first5=Michael H. |last6=Edmundson |first6=Scott J. |date=July 2020 |title=Growth modeling to evaluate alternative cultivation strategies to enhance national microalgal biomass production |journal=Algal Research |volume=49 |pages=101939 |doi=10.1016/j.algal.2020.101939 |s2cid=219431866 |issn=2211-9264|doi-access=free |bibcode=2020AlgRe..4901939S }}</ref> Microalgae are very similar to terrestrial plants because they contain chlorophyll, as well as they require sunlight in order to grow and live. They can often be found floating in the top part of the ocean, which is where sunlight touches the water. Microalgae require nitrates, phosphates, and sulfur which they convert into carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. <ref>{{Cite web |last=US Department of Commerce |first=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title=What are phytoplankton? |url=https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/phyto.html |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=oceanservice.noaa.gov |language=EN-US}}</ref> Due to this converting ability, they are known to have health and nutritional benefits. It has been found to work as an ingredient in some foods, as well as a biostimulant in agricultural products. <ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Su |first1=Min |last2=Bastiaens |first2=Leen |last3=Verspreet |first3=Joran |last4=Hayes |first4=Maria |date=2023-10-23 |title=Applications of Microalgae in Foods, Pharma and Feeds and Their Use as Fertilizers and Biostimulants: Legislation and Regulatory Aspects for Consideration |journal=Foods |language=en |volume=12 |issue=20 |pages=3878 |doi=10.3390/foods12203878 |doi-access=free |issn=2304-8158 |pmc=10606004 |pmid=37893770}}</ref>

The [[biodiversity]] of microalgae is enormous and they represent an almost untapped resource. It has been estimated that about 200,000-800,000 species in many different genera exist of which about 50,000 species are described.<ref name="Flanders">Starckx, Senne (31 October 2012) [http://www.flanderstoday.eu/current-affairs/place-sun A place in the sun - Algae is the crop of the future, according to researchers in Geel] [[Flanders Today]], Retrieved 8 December 2012</ref> Over 15,000 novel compounds originating from algal biomass have been chemically determined.<ref name=Cardozo2007 /> Examples include [[carotenoid]]s, [[fatty acid]]s, [[enzyme]]s, [[polymer]]s, [[peptide]]s, [[toxin]]s and [[sterol]]s.<ref name="pmid22586907">{{cite journal | vauthors = Ratha SK, Prasanna R | title = Bioprospecting microalgae as potential sources of "Green Energy"—challenges and perspectives  | journal = Applied Biochemistry and Microbiology | volume = 48 | issue = 2 | pages = 109–125 | date = February 2012 | pmid = 22586907 | doi = 10.1134/S000368381202010X| s2cid = 18430041 }}</ref> Besides providing these valuable metabolites, microalgae are regarded as a potential feedstock for [[biofuels]] and has also emerged as a promising microorganism in [[bioremediation]].<ref name="yuvraj 305 318">{{cite book | vauthors = Yuvraj | chapter = Microalgal Bioremediation: A Clean and Sustainable Approach for Controlling Environmental Pollution|date=2022 |volume=1|pages=305–318| title = Innovations in Environmental Biotechnology|place=Singapore|publisher=Springer Singapore|language=en|doi=10.1007/978-981-16-4445-0_13|isbn=978-981-16-4445-0 }}</ref> Microalgae is an aquatic organism that has a lot of different bioactive compounds that compose it, including carotenoids, peptides, phenolics, and vitamin B<sub>12</sub>. Many of them have been found to have positive health effects, which includes anticancer, antihypertensive, anti-obesity, antioxidative, and cardiovascular protection. It has faced lots of challenges due to species diversity and variations in biomass and cultivation factors.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ampofo |first1=Josephine |last2=Abbey |first2=Lord |date=2022-06-14 |title=Microalgae: Bioactive Composition, Health Benefits, Safety and Prospects as Potential High-Value Ingredients for the Functional Food Industry |journal=Foods (Basel, Switzerland) |volume=11 |issue=12 |pages=1744 |doi=10.3390/foods11121744 |doi-access=free |issn=2304-8158 |pmc=9222421 |pmid=35741941}}</ref>

An exception to the microalgae family is the colorless ''[[Prototheca]]'' which are devoid of any [[chlorophyll]]. These achlorophic algae switch to [[parasitism]] and thus cause the disease [[protothecosis]] in human and animals.

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