Editing Microalgae (section)

=== Photo- and chemosynthetic algae ===
Photosynthetic and chemosynthetic microbes can also form symbiotic relationships with host organisms. They provide them with vitamins and polyunsaturated fatty acids, necessary for the growth of the bivalves which are unable to synthesize it themselves.<ref name="microalgaeifremer" /> Microalgae also is a rich source of bioactive compounds and nutrients. They are considered to be valuable in environmental applications, food, and pharmaceuticals due to the presence of lipids, proteins, and vitamins found within. <ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Dolganyuk |first1=Vyacheslav |last2=Belova |first2=Daria |last3=Babich |first3=Olga |last4=Prosekov |first4=Alexander |last5=Ivanova |first5=Svetlana |last6=Katserov |first6=Dmitry |last7=Patyukov |first7=Nikolai |last8=Sukhikh |first8=Stanislav |date=2020-08-06 |title=Microalgae: A Promising Source of Valuable Bioproducts |journal=Biomolecules |volume=10 |issue=8 |pages=1153 |doi=10.3390/biom10081153 |doi-access=free |issn=2218-273X |pmc=7465300 |pmid=32781745}}</ref> In addition, because the cells grow in aqueous suspension, they have more efficient access to water, CO<sub>2</sub>, and other nutrients.

Microalgae play a major role in nutrient cycling and [[Carbon cycle|fixing inorganic carbon]] into organic molecules and expressing [[oxygen]] in marine [[biosphere]].

While [[fish oil]] has become famous for its [[omega-3 fatty acid]] content, fish do not actually produce omega-3s, instead accumulating their omega-3 reserves by consuming microalgae. These omega-3 fatty acids can be obtained in the human diet directly from the microalgae that produce them.

Microalgae can accumulate considerable amounts of proteins depending on species and cultivation conditions. Due to their ability to grow on non-arable land microalgae may provide an alternative protein source for human consumption or animal feed.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Becker |first1=E. W. |title=Micro-algae as a source of protein |journal=Biotechnology Advances |date=1 March 2007 |volume=25 |issue=2 |pages=207–210 |doi=10.1016/j.biotechadv.2006.11.002 |pmid=17196357 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S073497500600139X|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Microalgae proteins are also investigated as [[thickening agents]]<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Grossmann |first1=Lutz |last2=Hinrichs |first2=Jörg |last3=Weiss |first3=Jochen |title=Cultivation and downstream processing of microalgae and cyanobacteria to generate protein-based technofunctional food ingredients |journal=Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition |date=24 September 2020 |volume=60 |issue=17 |pages=2961–2989 |doi=10.1080/10408398.2019.1672137 |pmid=31595777 |s2cid=203985553 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10408398.2019.1672137?journalCode=bfsn20|url-access=subscription }}</ref> or [[emulsion]] and [[foam]] stabilizers<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bertsch |first1=Pascal |last2=Böcker |first2=Lukas |last3=Mathys |first3=Alexander |last4=Fischer |first4=Peter |title=Proteins from microalgae for the stabilization of fluid interfaces, emulsions, and foams |journal=Trends in Food Science & Technology |date=February 2021 |volume=108 |pages=326–342 |doi=10.1016/j.tifs.2020.12.014 |doi-access=free |hdl=20.500.11850/458592 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> in the food industry to replace animal based proteins.

Some microalgae accumulate [[chromophores]] like [[chlorophyll]], [[carotenoids]], [[phycobiliprotein]]s or polyphenols that may be extracted and used as coloring agents.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Aizpuru |first1=Aitor |last2=González-Sánchez |first2=Armando |date=2024-07-20 |title=Traditional and new trend strategies to enhance pigment contents in microalgae |journal=World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology |language=en |volume=40 |issue=9 |pages=272 |doi=10.1007/s11274-024-04070-3 |issn=1573-0972 |pmc=11271434 |pmid=39030303}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hu |first1=Jianjun |last2=Nagarajan |first2=Dillirani |last3=Zhang |first3=Quanguo |last4=Chang |first4=Jo-Shu |last5=Lee |first5=Duu-Jong |title=Heterotrophic cultivation of microalgae for pigment production: A review |journal=Biotechnology Advances |date=January 2018 |volume=36 |issue=1 |pages=54–67 |doi=10.1016/j.biotechadv.2017.09.009 |pmid=28947090 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0734975017301209|url-access=subscription }}</ref>