Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) that is often interchangeably
termed as flow cytometry allows for rapid multiparametric analysis of the physical
characteristics of individual particles or cells as they flow in a fluid stream one by one
through a fixed laser beam. FACS also implies physical sorting of particles with
selected optical properties out of the flow stream and collecting them for subsequent
studies. Unicellular microalgae of freshwater and seawater habitats represent a very
convenient object for FACS analysis. The current chapter summarizes major
achievements of FACS in the study of morpho-functional peculiarities and taxonomic
affiliation of microalgae representing eukaryotic organisms. Life cycle analysis of
green microalgae using a combination of key life cycle parameters such as cell
size/volume, DNA and chlorophyll content distributions is also considered here
Keywords: FACS, Fluorescence, Forward light scatter, Life cycle, Side light
scatter, Unicellular microalgae.
