The current study focused on the analysis of seven microalgal organ-
isms, selected to belong to diverse evolutionary lineages, including green
algae (Volvox carteri, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Chlorella variabilis,
Ostreococcus lucimarinus), red algae (Cyanidioschyzon merolae)and
diatoms (Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Thalassiosira pseudonana).
The algal species that were investigated for putative fusion and fission
events in the current study, along with the taxonomic group to which
they belong, are described in Table 1.