Project name: Bigelowiella natans

Description: Bigelowiella natans is an amoeboflagellate algae that obtained its chloroplast by engulfing a photosynthetic eukaryote and retaining its chloroplast, a process called secondary endosymbiosis. The host cell also contains the nucleus, called nucleomorph, and the cytoplasm of the engulfed alga, though in reduced form. It belongs to family Chlorarachniophyceae. Members of this family are mixotrophic marine flagellates and amoeboflagellates with green plastids surrounded by four membranes.

Last updated: 2007-11-16