Editing Chlorophyta (section)

== Usage ==

=== Model organisms ===

Among chlorophytes, a small group known as the volvocine green algae is being researched to understand the origins of [[cell differentiation]] and [[multicellularity]]. In particular, the unicellular flagellate ''[[Chlamydomonas reinhardtii]]'' and the colonial organism ''[[Volvox carteri]]'' are object of interest due to sharing [[Homology (biology)|homologous]] [[genes]] that in ''Volvox'' are directly involved in the development of two different cell types with full division of labor between swimming and reproduction, whereas in ''Chlamydomonas'' only one cell type exists that can function as a [[gamete]]. Other volvocine species, with intermediate characters between these two, are studied to further understand the transition towards the cellular division of labor, namely ''[[Gonium pectorale]]'', ''[[Pandorina morum]]'', ''[[Eudorina elegans]]'' and ''[[Pleodorina starrii]]''.{{Sfn|Nishii|Miller|2010}}

=== Industrial uses ===

Chlorophyte [[microalgae]] are a valuable source of [[biofuel]] and various chemicals and products in industrial amounts, such as [[carotenoid]]s, [[vitamin]]s and [[unsaturated fatty acid]]s. The genus ''[[Botryococcus]]'' is an efficient producer of hydrocarbons, which are converted into [[biodiesel]]. Various genera (''[[Chlorella]]'', ''[[Scenedesmus]]'', ''[[Haematococcus]]'', ''[[Dunaliella]]'' and ''[[Tetraselmis]]'') are used as cellular factories of biomass, lipids and different vitamins for either human or animal consumption, and even for usage as pharmaceuticals. Some of their pigments are employed for cosmetics.{{Sfn|Baudelet|Ricochon|Linder|Muniglia|2017}}