For the first time a book is available devoted to cellular evolution and to the biology of Cyanidium and other enigmatic cells. Twenty international experts present their views and reviews, postulating new theories on compartmental (direct filiation) eukaryogenesis, discussing the endosymbiotic hypothesis, and providing conceptions on molecular RNA and protein sequences of genes for phylogenetic applications.
The book contains exclusive reports on additional species (newly discovered) of the Cyanidium group. Special attention is given to the red algae and other enigmatic/unicellular algae including Nanochlorum eucaryotum (a green alga with minimal eukaryotic characteristics). The mystifying taxon of Glaucocystophyta (containing Cyanophora paradoxa -- the endosymbiotic `guinea pig' with cyanelles/host special relationships) is examined.
For biologists, post/graduate students in biology, and anyone seriously interested in algae, evolution, cytology, biochemistry and questions of nucleated cell differentiation or cellular endosymbiosis.

Inhalt
I. Models for the eukaryotic cellular origins and evolutions.- 1. Origin of Eukaryota from cyanobacterium: membrane evolution theory.- 2. Glaucocystophyta model for symbiogenous evolution of new eukaryotic species.- 3. Alternative pathway (cyanobacteria to eukaryota).- II. Green enigmatic algae.- 4. Nanochlorum eucaryotum a green enigmatic alga: morphology, biochemistry and molecular biology.- 5. Enigmatic chlorophycean algae forming symbiotic associations with ciliates.- III. The paradoxical Cyanidiophyceae.- 6. The natural history of Cyanidium (Geitler 1933: past and present perspectives.- 7. A review on the taxonomic position of the algal genus Cyanidium Geitler 1933 and its ecological cohorts Galdieria Merola in Merola et al. 1981 and Cyanidioschyzon De Luca, Taddei and Varano 1978.- 8. Systematic position and phylogenetic status of Cyanidium Geitler 1933.- 9. New classification for the genus Cyanidium Geitler 1933.- 10. Cyanidium investigations in Japan.- 11. Italy's contribution to the systematics of Cyanidium caldarium 'sensu lato'.- 12. The study of Cyanidiophyceae in Russia.- 13. Cyanidium-like algae from caves.- 14. The function of peroxisomes in the Cyanidiaceae.- 15. Nitrogen assimilation in a thermophilic acidophilic alga.- 16. Natural products of the Cyanidiophyceae.- 17. Ultrastructure of unicellular red algae.- 18. Ultrastructure of cytoplasmic organelles in Cyanidium caldarium.- 19. Cyanidium caldarium as a model cell for studying division of chloroplasts.- 20. Molecular organization and expression of the plastid genome of Galdieria sulphuraria (= Cyanidium caldarium) and other unicellular red algae.- 21. The molecular aspects of pigments and photosynthesis in Cyanidium caldarium.- 22. List of relevant literature references and index fordisciplinary fields.- Appendix. Methods for algal investigation.- General index.