title: On the evolutionary origins of apicoplasts: revisiting the rhodophyte vs. chlorophyte controversy.
abstract: Apicomplexans are parasites of great medical and veterinary importance. They contain a vestigial plastid, the apicoplast, that originated through the secondary endosymbiosis of the photosynthetic unicellular alga. The nature of this alga remains controversial. Here, we revisit the available evidence and critically summarize the "green vs. red" debate.
authors.affiliation: Institut fur Physiologische Chemie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Soledad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Funes
authors.forename: Adrián
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reyes-Prieto
authors.forename: Xochtil
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Pérez-Martínez
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: González-Halphen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016782:Apicomplexa / Q000235:genetics*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D018087:Plastids / Q000235:genetics*; D000461:Rhodophyta / Q000235:genetics; D013559:Symbiosis