Project name: Ochromonas danica

Description: Ochromonas is a genus of golden brown chrysophyte alga. They are unicellular flagellates and live mainly in freshwater ditches, pools, and puddles of rainwater. It is considered the most primitive type of organism within class Chrysophyceaea. Its cells lack cell walls and are capable of amoeboid movements. They bear two flagella of dissimilar size and structure. Cells contain one or two contractile vacuoles, one or two plate like chloroplasts and an eyespot which appears as a small red spot at the anterior of the cell within one of the chloroplasts. Different species have been shown to exhibit phototrophy, saprotrophy, and phagotrophyOchromonas danica has an unusually flexible cell capable of producing various shapes of different sizes. It is nutritionally versatile. It is photosynthetic but can also take organic, dissolved or particulate, matter It has been shown to be able to grow in cultures containing phenol as sole carbon source and removing it from the growth medium.

Last updated: 2004-08-16