A Genome-Wide, Mapped Algal Mutant Library Enables High-Throughput Genetic Studies in a Photosynthetic Eukaryote

Photosynthetic organisms provide food and energy for nearly all life on Earth, yet half of their genes remain uncharacterized. Characterization of gene functions could be greatly accelerated by new genetic resources in unicellular model organisms. We have generated a genome-wide, indexed library of mapped insertion mutants for the unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, which includes disruptions in 83% of nuclear genes. The abundance of...