Algae are (mostly) photosynthetic eukaryotes that occupy multiple branches of the tree of life, and are vital for planet function and health. In this review, we highlight a transformative period in studies of the evolution and functioning of this extraordinary group of organisms and their potential for novel applications, wrought by high-throughput ‘omic’ and reverse genetic methods. We cover the origin and diversification of algal groups, explore advances in understanding the link between phenotype and genotype, consider algal sex determination, and review progress in understanding the roots of algal multicellularity. Experimental evolution studies to determine how algae evolve in changing environments are highlighted, as is their potential as production platforms for compounds of commercial interest, such as biofuel precursors, nutraceuticals, or therapeutics.

藻类（主要是光合作用的真核生物）占据了生命树的多个分支，对行星的功能和健康至关重要。在这篇综述中，我们重点介绍了由高通量“组学”和反向遗传学方法研究的这一非凡生物群的进化和功能及其在新应用中的潜力的研究中的转型期。我们涵盖了藻类群的起源和多样性，探索了了解表型和基因型之间联系的进展，考虑了藻类的性别决定，并回顾了了解藻类多细胞性根源的进展。强调了确定环境中藻类如何进化的实验性进化研究，以及其作为具有商业意义的化合物（例如生物燃料前体，营养品，