Genetic modification in dinoflagellate algae: Some successes, many failures

Dinoflagellate algae are an extremely important group of eukaryotic algae, found primarily in marine environments. They are responsible for a significant proportion of global primary productivity. Whilst some species are essential symbionts in coral reefs, others form toxic blooms and 'red tides', causing mass fish mortality. Understanding the basic biology of these organisms is therefore important not only for studying ecology and the environment, but also for food safety. Despite the fact that genetic engineering tools are at the cornerstone of modern biological research, the ability of researchers to carry out genetic modification in dinoflagellate algae is limited. Here, we examine the challenges facing molecular research in dinoflagellate algae, showing which genetic transformation techniques have worked and which have been less successful. We suggest that further research into nuclear gene expression in these enigmatic algae would greatly aid genetic engineering endeavours.