Basic features of  algae – unicellular to multicellular organisms, typically autotrophic (phototrophic). Yes they are typically autotrophic. But in the recent issue of Nature Communications Vol. 3, Article number: 1214; doi:10.1038/ncomms2210 it has been reoprted that the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii not only engages in photosynthesis, it also has an alternative source of energy. A…