Research news on dinoflagellates

Dinoflagellates are a diverse group of primarily marine, single-celled eukaryotic microorganisms within the Alveolata, studied as key topics in marine and freshwater ecology, biogeochemistry, and harmful algal bloom research. Characterized by two perpendicular flagella and thecal plates composed of cellulose in many species, they exhibit varied trophic modes, including autotrophy, heterotrophy, and mixotrophy. Dinoflagellates are major primary producers and symbionts (e.g., in corals) and produce a wide array of bioactive secondary metabolites, some of which are potent phycotoxins. Their complex genomes, unusual chromatin organization, and intricate life cycles make them important model systems in evolutionary cell biology and ecological genomics.