Sequencing the genome of the chlorophyte Elliptochloris marina

Temperate sea anemones from the genus Anthopleura are unique in that they can simultaneously engage in symbiosis with two distantly related microalgal symbionts. There is a growing body of research related to the symbiodiniacean symbionts, including Breviolum muscatinei that occurs in Anthopleura elegantissima and A. xanthogrammica, because the Symbiodiniaceae family of dinoflagellates participates in symbiosis with many coral species, providing the nutritional means for corals to build reef ecosystem. On the contrary, there is a large knowledge gap in the basic biology of the chlorophyte symbiont, Elliptochloris marina. Though there are a variety of physiological studies centered on E. marina, there is a scarcity of genomic resources.