What is algae?

What is algae?
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Algae are simple organisms that typically produce their own food through photosynthesis. They are similar to higher plants, but they lack many of the distinct organs that you will find in a higher plant. The higher plants are believed to have evolved from algae, and algae are believed to have gotten their capacity for photosynthesis from cyanobacteria.

Some types of algae are capable of absorbing organic carbon through osmotrophy, myzotrophy or phagotrophy and are therefore not forced to rely solely on photosynthesis. Osmotrophy is a process where dissolved organic compounds are absorbed through osmosis. Myzocytosis is a method (sometimes referred to as “cellular vampirism”) by which the algae will suck out cellular content from other cells through a feeding tube. An alga that carries out phagocytosis will engulf solid particles with its cell membrane to form an internal food vacuole.

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