The two principal categories of producers (autotrophs) in the sea are pelagic phytoplankton and benthic microalgae and macroalgae.
Typical benthic producers are microalgae (e.g., diatoms), macroalgae (e.g., the kelp Macrocystis pyrifera), or sea grass (e.g., Zostera).
Their tiny cosmos contains multitudes — an estimated million and a half species, including plants and animals, bacteria and viruses, fish larvae and microalgae, predators, parasites, and prey.
The patent-pending alguronic acid in Algenist is a "single, purified, highly bioactive compound," said Tony Day, the vice president for research and development at Solazyme, and therefore delivers "much higher activity to the skin" than products using only a microalgae extract.
Algaetech has identified several indigenous Malaysian microalgae species that can yield about 30 percent oil, and one strain has been found that could yield 60 percent.
"But it's still 'brainy scientist comes up with cosmetic product.' " According to Jonathan Wolfson, the chief executive of Solazyme, the alternative-energy company that makes Algenist, the product came about after a fortuitous suggestion roughly six years ago by Arthur Grossman, a microalgae expert who's now an adviser to the brand.
In a prepared statement, Roquette said it would move forward independently to develop nongenetically modified ingredients from microalgae for nutritional products.
(Our national debt?) But suddenly La Prairie's Cellular Power Serum at $475 (available in September) sounds tempting; It's full of resveratrol-rich knotweed, sea-based microalgae, stem cells and peptides to keep your face cheerleader perky.
Just ask Allison Slater, the vice president for retail marketing at Sephora, about the new anti-aging skin care line Algenist — featuring a star ingredient, alguronic acid, that scientists in San Francisco say they stumbled upon while researching microalgae.
Solazyme, based in South San Francisco, Calif., has developed several strains of microalgae that can produce oils, proteins and complex sugars with specific characteristics to perform a variety of functions.
Then Mr. Dillon found microalgae, and delusional became real.
