Alexandrium tamarense
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Classification
Higher order taxa
Domain: Eukaryota
Phylum: Alveolata
Class: Dinophyceae
Order: Gonyaulacales
Family: Gonyaulacaceae
Species
Alexandrium tamarense
Synonyms: Gonyaulax tamarensis Lebour 1925 , G. excavata (Braarud) Balech 1971 Protogonyaulax tamarensis (Lebour) F. J. R. Taylor 1979
Description and significance
Alexandrium tamarense is a single-celled dinoflagellate found primarily in coastal marine environments and is commonly known as the culprit that causes the algal blooms called red tides. It is considered a photoautotroph and contains brown chloroplasts, is 25-46 micrometers in length,
Like other dinoflagellate species, A. tamarense propels itself through water using two flagella in a whip-like fashion. It is also considered "armored" because it is surrounded by a layer of cellulose that form plates known as thecae.
Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why it is important enough to have its genome sequenced. Describe how and where it was isolated.
Genome structure
Like other dinoflagellates, Alexandrium tamarense consists of large amounts of DNA compared to other eukaryotic organisms. It consists of 144 chromosomes which are condensed in the nucleus until DNA replication. A 6,723 unique (11,171 total) expressed sequence tags (ESTs) have been generated.
It is still not clear which genes play a role in toxin production.
Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? Does it have any plasmids? Are they important to the organism's lifestyle?
Cell structure and metabolism
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Ecology
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Pathology
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Application to Biotechnology
Does this organism produce any useful compounds or enzymes? What are they and how are they used?
Current Research
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