Genetic technologies make use of algae as a biological factory for the production of valuable algal metabolites and recombinant proteins [335] including:

• Carotenoids [336, 337]

• Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids [338]

• Pharmaceutically active compounds [339, 340]

• Polysaccharides [341, 342]

• Diagnostic and therapeutic recombinant proteins [343, 344]

Originally, genetic techniques were developed for three laboratory model organ­isms: C. reinhardtii, Volvox carteri, and P. tricornutum. Recently, genetic engineer­ing techniques have expanded to other algal species, including Chlorella sp. and diatoms. Sequenced genomes of algae are still limited. Green algae have only 3 genomes completed and 12 genomes are on assembly stage or in progress; diatoms have 2 completed genomes and 3 in progress. The process of sequencing 70 cyanobacterium genomes is completed and 102 genomes are on assembly stage or in progress [345] .