Advances in microalgal research and engineering development

Microalgae have been investigated for the photosynthetic production of natural products with industrial and biomedical applications. Their rapid growth offers an advantage over higher plants, while their complex metabolic capacities allow for the production of various molecules. Despite their potentials, molecular techniques are underdeveloped in microalgae compared to higher plants, fungi, and bacteria. However, recent advances in genome sequencing, strain development, and genome editing technologies, are providing thrust to enhance research on microalgal species that have branched out from several focal model organisms to encompass a great diversity of species. In this review, we highlight the recent, significant advances in microalgal research, with a focus on the development of new resources that can enhance work on model and non-model species.