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Botryococcus
| Botryococcus Temporal range: Precambrian - Recent >
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|---|---|
| |
| Botryococcus braunii | |
Scientific classification 
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| Clade: | Viridiplantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Class: | Trebouxiophyceae |
| Order: | Trebouxiales |
| Family: | Botryococcaceae |
| Genus: | Botryococcus Kützing, 1849 |
| Type species | |
| Botryococcus braunii Kützing
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| Species[1] | |
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See text | |
Botryococcus is a genus of green algae. It is a microscopic or semi-microscopic alga that is found in freshwater habitats worldwide. It consists of colonies of cells in an irregular, gelatinous matrix.[1]
Botryococcus produces high amounts of oil, which often make the colonies colored yellowish to reddish. When seen with a microscope, colonies release oil under the pressure of a cover slip.[2] Because of its high amounts of oil, Botryococcus is of interest to the field of biotechnology, as it is a promising source of biofuel.[3]
In addition to its current biosynthetic capabilites, fossils of the genus are known since Precambrian times, and form the single largest biological contributor to crude oil, and are a major component of oil shales.[4]
- ^ a b Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. "Botryococcus". AlgaeBase. University of Galway. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ D. M. John; Brian A. Whitton; Alan J. Brook, eds. (2002). The freshwater algal flora of the British Isles: an identification guide to freshwater and terrestrial algae. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-77051-4.
- ^ Metzger, P.; Largeau, C. (2005). "Botryococcus braunii: a rich source for hydrocarbons and related ether lipids". Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 66 (25): 486–96. doi:10.1007/s00253-004-1779-z. PMID 15630516. S2CID 26975859.
- ^ Tennant, Richard K.; Lux, Thomas M.; Sambles, Christine M.; Kuhn, Nikolaus J.; Petticrew, Ellen L.; Oldfield, Richard; Parker, David A.; Hatton, Jackie; Moore, Karen A.; Lee, Rob; Turney, Chris S. M. (2019-02-11). "Palaeogenomics of the Hydrocarbon Producing Microalga Botryococcus braunii". Scientific Reports. 9 (1): 1776. Bibcode:2019NatSR...9.1776T. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-38236-5. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 6370823. PMID 30742038.
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