Astonishing & Magnificent Algae
Article by Paul Gaylon
Inspired by “The Astonishing, Magnificent, Delightful Algae“
Author: Dr. William Barry
Characteristics of Algae
“Algae ” refers to a group of mostly marine organisms that can transform simple substances into food. They possess the wonderfully innovative ability to use photosynthesis to harness the power of the sun, carbon dioxide in the air, and water to produce the nutrition that they need. Algae capture large quantities of carbon dioxide through respiration and decomposition. Oxygen is a byproduct of photosynthesis released into the air. It is believed that algae produce enough oxygen to sustain human beings and all the world’s animals including human beings. The world would otherwise be a hostile atmospheric environment.
This CO2 is then made available to plants and other algae. Algae complete the cycle by first using CO2 to make sugar and then releasing oxygen when they oxidize sugar for energy. These sugars are made into more complex sugars, proteins, fats, hormones, and enzymes. Algae are known to fix more carbon, or, in other words, make more sugar, than all the rest of the world’s plants combined. (Arms, K. and P.S. Camp, 1987).
Algae use their multiple sugars (polysaccharides) to build cellulose containers around themselves known as cell walls. They have a gelatinous sheath and can be mobile if necessary. All algae are composed of self-sufficient cells.
Algae make lipids (fats) from simpler glycerol and fatty acids. Algae contain these lipids —triacylglycerols (TAG), diacylglycerols (DAG), free fatty acids (FFA), and phospholipids (PL)—in their oils. Phospholipids are an important class of lipids that contain phosphorus, a fat-soluble nutrient that is inherent in some algae. Other lipids contain fatty acids in combination with carbohydrates or proteins, thus erasing the distinctions between these three major food groups. Some photosynthesizing algae simply absorb nutrients from their surroundings when there is insufficient light; these species can live quite nicely in the dark (N.G. Carr & B.A. Whitton, 1982, page 4).
Phaeophtya (brown algae), Ptilota (red-colored algae), and Codium Intricatum (dark green color) are especially rich in iodine. They contain 11 types of pigments, all amino acids, and many growth factors via coenzymes. These algae are composed of 15–21% complex carbohydrates and 3.7% lipids.
Algae have adapted to the air, soil, and water in every type of environment and in all temperature ranges over their 35 million-year existence. They can be single-celled, small cell colonies, matted strands of cells, or aggregates, or wall celluloses with gelatinous sheaths. Phaeophtya (brown algae) can use atmospheric nitrogen to extract CO2 from the bicarbonates (HCO3).
Cyanobacteria (Aphanizomenon flos-aquae)
Cyanobacteria are classified as prokaryotic bacteria, not algae, although they perform photosynthesis as algae do. They are classified as bacteria because of their cellular structure; they lack a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles. AFA were classified as algae, but they were reclassified due to advancements in cell structure research. The name “cyanobacteria” refers to the organism’s blue-green color (cyan). AFA are cyanobacterial nutrient-dense botanical organisms that grow in water. Klamath Lake AFA (Aphanizomenon flos-aquae MDT14a) is one strain of AFA.
Aphanizomenon flos-aqua had a successful existence for the past 3.5 billion years and changed very little over time. They have mastered their environments, their competitions, light and temperature conditions, as well as physical and chemical changes. Cyanobacteria have survived and thrived by learning many tricks, such as learning to produce the precise amount of enzymes, vitamins, and amino acids to keep themselves healthy. Blue-green algae have learned which pigments to produce and use in various light situations to produce their required food. They have learned to take optimal amounts of nitrogen and carbon dioxide from the air and water (and minerals from water) to thrive. Their food is stored as carbohydrate proteins.
Some strains of AFA have been approved for food production. They have a high protein content and are rich in vitamins, minerals, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. AFA have emerged as good candidates for biotechnical applications. The AFA strain used in Mineral MAX AG is also nutrient-rich, but it is not food-grade. It is approved for use as a plant and soil biostimulant and not for human and pet consumption.