Some Examples of Algae

Chlamydomonas
Chlamydomonas

• Chlamydomonas is a genus of green algae consisting of about 325

species all unicellular flagellates, found in stagnant water and on
damp soil, in freshwater, seawater, and even in snow as "snow
algae".
• Chlamydomonas is used as a model organism for molecular biology,
especially studies of flagellar motility and chloroplast dynamics,
biogeneses, and genetics.
Chlamydomonas

• One of the many striking features of Chlamydomonas is that it

contains ion channels (channelrhodopsins) that are directly activated
by light.
• Some regulatory systems of Chlamydomonas are more complex than
their homologs in Gymnosperms, with evolutionarily related
regulatory proteins being larger and containing additional domains.
Morphology

• Motile unicellular algae.

• Generally oval in shape.
• Cell wall is made up of a glycoprotein and non cellulosic
polysaccharides instead of cellulose.
• Two anteriorly inserted whiplash flagella. Each flagellum originates
from a basal granule in the anterior papillate or non-papillate region
of the cytoplasm. Each flagellum shows typical 9+2 arrangement of
the component fibrils.
Morphology

• Contractile vacuoles are near the bases of flagella.

• Prominent cup or bowl shaped chloroplast is present. The chloroplast
contains bands composed of a variable number of the photosynthetic
thylakoids which are not organised into grana-like structures.
• The nucleus is enclosed in a cup-shaped chloroplast, which has a
single large pyrenoid where starch is formed from photosynthetic
products. Pyrenoid with starch sheath is present in the posterior end
of the chloroplast.
• Eye spot present in the anterior portion of the chloroplast. It consists
of two or three, more or less parallel rows of linearly arranged fat
droplets.
Life Cycle
EUGLENA
 EUGLENA

• Euglena is a eukaryotic unicellular organism, it contains the major

organelles found in more complex life.
• This protist is both an autotroph, meaning it can carry out photosynthesis
and make its own food like plants, as well as a heteroptoph, meaning it can
also capture and ingest its food.
• When acting as a autotroph, the Euglena utilizes its chloroplasts (which
gives it the green color) to produce sugars by photosynthesis.
 EUGLENA

• When acting as a heterotroph, the Euglena surrounds the particle of food

and consumes it by phagocytosis, or in other words, engulfing the food
through its cell membrane.
• Due to this adaptation, many Euglena are considered mixotrophs:
autotrophs in the light and heterotophs in the dark.
• Locomotion comes in the form of either the rotating flagellums, or the
flexible pellicle membrane.
Morphology

• Euglena organelles include:

• Flagellum- A long, mobile filament that the Euglena uses to propel

itself in its environment

• Reservoir- The part used for storage of nutrients

• Stigma- A light sensitive-spot that allows the Euglena to detect light,

so that it may move towards it in order to conduct photosynthesis
Morphology

• Chloroplast- Organelle that allows the organism to conduct

photosynthesis
• Contractile Vacuole- Expels excess water into the reservoir, or else the
cell would burst
• Pellicle- Stiff membrane made of proteins and somewhat flexible, can
also be used for locomotion when crunching up and down or
wriggling
• Nucleus- The central organelle which contains DNA and controls the
cell's activity, contained within the Nucleolus
Reproduction