Algae Biology and Reproduction

Most Advanced Algae

• Ancestors of the plant kingdom

Reproduction

• Asexual reproduction occurs through zoospores, aplanospores, and hypnospores
• Sexual reproduction is classified into three types: isogamous, anisogamous, and oogamous

Forms of Algae

• Algae can be unicellular, filamentous, colonial, or parenchymatous

Unicellular Algae

• Chlamydomonas: characterized by motility, flagella, and variation in sexual reproduction
• Chlorella: non-motile, lacks flagella, and is rich in proteins
• Chlorella is used as food for space travelers and is the organism in which the Calvin Cycle (C3 cycle) was discovered
• It is a source of chlorophylls and antibiotics
• Chlorella is also known for its umbrella-shaped cells and is sometimes referred to as the "umbel plant"
• Hamerling experiments were conducted on Chlorella

Colonial Algae

• Colonial algae consist of a fixed number of cells in a colony, known as a coenobium
• Volvox: a motile colony
• Hydrodictyon: a non-motile colony

Filamentous Algae

• Cells are arranged to form filaments
• Spirogyra: also known as "pond silk"
• Ulothrix: also known as "pond weed"

Parenchymatous or Thalloid Algae

• Ulva: an example of a parenchymatous algae