News From the Field
DNA Analysis Aids in Classifying Single-celled Algae

September 19, 2012

For nearly 260 years--since Carl Linnaeus developed his system of naming plants and animals--researchers have classified species based on visual attributes like color, shape and size. However, in the past few decades, researchers have found that sequencing DNA can more accurately identify species. A group of single-celled algae--Symbiodinum--that live inside corals and are critical to their survival--are only now being separated into species using DNA analysis. Full Story

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Penn State

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