Overview

• Umeå University researchers observed membrane-enclosed apoptotic bodies in the photosynthetic microalga Guillardia theta.
• The vesicles are a defining marker of apoptosis previously documented only in multicellular animals.
• The result suggests apoptosis-like mechanisms are more ancient and widespread than assumed in eukaryotes.
• The experimental microscopy study by Corredor, Vergou and Skalický was published on 25 September 2025 in Nature Communications.
• Researchers note potential long-term applications for algal bloom management and biotechnology but stress these possibilities remain speculative.