6. Conclusion

The last thirty years have seen the development of genetic engineering for microalgae, paving the way for improved productivity. Several proofs of concept have been developed to increase or modify the content of natural compounds. However, knowledge of the metabolism and physiology of these organisms remains a sine qua non for increasing the probability of success of the various metabolic engineering strategies. Linking a gene to a function is now possible through the development of tools and methods enabling the precise modification of the microalgal genome, and hence the creation of mutants. Microalgae have also been rationally engineered to produce new molecules. However, their ability to compete with other chassis depends on their productivity on an industrial scale. By enabling the integration of artificial metabolic pathways at a defined locus, genome-editing methods offer microalgae...