Blue-green algae are quite distinct from other algaes in that they share characteristics with plants, animals and bacteria. Like plants, they have the ability to perform photosynthesis, but they do it far better than any other plant. They are the most chlorophyll-rich organisms on the planet. Special phycolilin pigments initiate the conversion of light energy to chemical energy by certain wavelengths of visible light to which chlorophyll is not as sensitive. The energy is absorbed by the pohycolilins and passed onto the chlorophyll. Further- more, blue-green algae are similar to animal cells in structure in that both have a soft, digestible cell wall composed of glycogen, which our bodies can use as a food. Many other plants have indigestible cellulose cell walls. Thus, because the algaes cell walls are soft and easy to digest, we can obtain more nutrients from its ingestion.
Posted on: Sat, 29 Mar 2014 22:39:19 +0000
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