| Algae belong to diverse group of autotrophic | | | | economy of fish farmers. They contaminate |
| organisms that can grow either unicellular or | | | | shellfish with toxins and cause massive fish kills, |
| multi-cellular. These plant-like organisms are known | | | | creating abhorrent destruction in the environment. |
| as the earliest forms of life that produce ample | | | | The fumes coming from decomposing algae are |
| amount of oxygen needed by plants, animals, and | | | | to blame for respiratory diseases. Also, direct |
| human beings as well. What's notable about algae | | | | contact with algae can cause skin irritations or |
| is their unique reproductive system that allows | | | | even eyes, nose, and mouth infections. Moreover, |
| them to develop rapidly in various forms of | | | | drinking water contaminated with algae is |
| habitats or environment. | | | | dangerous to one's health and eating shellfish that |
| Algae are rarely studied unlike other forms of | | | | have been exposed to algal blooms can cause |
| organisms. Phycology is the branch of science that | | | | food poisoning and death. |
| delves with the study of algae. All algae have | | | | Unfortunately, the effects of algae are known to |
| intrinsic nucleus and chloroplast, a pigment that is | | | | many rather than their benefits. Although most |
| also found in plants. Algae have resemblance to | | | | research and studies claim that algae are harmful |
| plants for their photosynthetic properties, but | | | | and toxic to the environment, some scientists |
| differ mainly for their absence of leaves and | | | | have found the future of bio fuels through the |
| roots that are common to plants. Because the | | | | use of algae. There's a field called "algae |
| cells of algae are submerged in water, they | | | | biotechnology" that aims to promote the |
| gather sufficient supply of water, CO2, and other | | | | production of algae into renewable fuels and |
| nutrients, wherein these nutrients speed up their | | | | medicines. In a study conducted several decades |
| staggering growth rate. | | | | ago, the Aquatic Species program (ASP) found |
| The exact number of species of algae that exist | | | | out the possibility of algae in the production of bio |
| on earth cannot be determined or impossible to | | | | fuels. The researches cultures over 3,000 species |
| determine. Although undetermined, there are over | | | | of algae taken from south western waters of |
| a million species of algae according to researchers. | | | | United States, but they only documented 300 |
| There are about 300,000 species of algae found | | | | species that are capable of producing fuel. Various |
| and preserved in the U.S. Algal Collection in | | | | studies surfaced that algae can be grown to |
| Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Moreover, | | | | produce biomass, which can be utilized to produce |
| taxonomists classify algae through the | | | | heat and electricity. Algae can be converted into |
| pigmentation, cellular structure, and life cycle. | | | | biodiesel, bio ethanol, and vegetable oil. Otherwise, |
| Obviously, algae thrive in the world's waters. | | | | pharmaceutical companies can create miracle |
| Despite of being the chief producers of oxygen | | | | cures. This happens because algae contain |
| and food source of fish, algae are threat to the | | | | complete protein and amino acids. Algae have high |
| environment. Harmful algal bloom or HABs is | | | | amounts of simple and complex carbohydrates, |
| reportedly the culprit of die-offs of lakes, ponds, | | | | fatty acids including Omega 3 and 6, and abundant |
| ocean, and other bodies of water. HABs can wipe | | | | with other vitamins and minerals. |
| out the marine life and at times affect the | | | | |