Morphophysiological, structural, and metabolic aspects of microalgae

The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of the biological fundamentals of microalgae, especially regarding their morphophysiological, structural, and metabolic aspects. Some fundamental questions will be answered, such as what microalgae are, what cyanobacteria are, and what the main groups and their main characteristics are. In addition, the ultrastructures of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells will be reviewed in their main aspects. Finally, the three possible metabolic pathways (photosynthesis, respiration, and nitrogen fixation) for microalgae will be presented and discussed.