Microalgae have been largely cultured and commercialized as food and feed

additives, and their potential as source of high-added value compounds is well known.

But, in contrast to the large number of genetically modified bacteria, yeast and even

higher plants, only a few species of microalgae have been genetically transformed

with efficiency. Initial difficulties in the expression of foreign genes in microalgae

have been progressively overcome, and powerful molecular tools for their genetic

engineering are now on hand. A considerable collection of...