biostudies-literatureBoland DJTexas A&M University Department of Biochemistry & BiophysicsJSPS KAKENHINSF-EFRI-PSBRTexas A&M University Perry L. Adkisson Chair in Agricultural BiologyTexas A&M University College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Endowed Graduate Fellowship for the Borlaug Scholars Program, G. Rollie White TrustDOEe0304144https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11286282biostudies-literatureUnknown19(7)The colonial green microalga Botryococcus braunii is well known for producing liquid hydrocarbons that can be utilized as biofuel feedstocks. B. braunii is taxonomically classified as a single species made up of three chemical races, A, B, and L, that are mainly distinguished by the hydrocarbons produced. We previously reported a B race draft nuclear genome, and here we report the draft nuclear genomes for the A and L races. A comparative genomic study of the three B. braunii races and 14 other algal species within Chlorophyta revealed significant differences in the genomes of each race of B. braunii. Phylogenomically, there was a clear divergence of the three races with the A race diverging earlier than both the B and L races, and the B and L races diverging from a later common ancestor nPloS oneReclassification of Botryococcus braunii chemical races into separate species based on a comparative genomics analysis.PMC11286282DE-EE0003046JP22H024321240478Mullet JCornejo-Corona IBoland DJBrowne DRMurphy RLDevarenne TPOkada SfalseReclassification of Botryococcus braunii chemical races into separate species based on a comparative genomics analysis.The colonial green microalga Botryococcus braunii is well known for producing liquid hydrocarbons that can be utilized as biofuel feedstocks. B. braunii is taxonomically classified as a single species made up of three chemical races, A, B, and L, that are mainly distinguished by the hydrocarbons produced. We previously reported a B race draft nuclear genome, and here we report the draft nuclear genomes for the A and L races. A comparative genomic study of the three B. braunii races and 14 other algal species within Chlorophyta revealed significant differences in the genomes of each race of B. braunii. Phylogenomically, there was a clear divergence of the three races with the A race diverging earlier than both the B and L races, and the B and L races diverging from a later common ancestor n2024-01-01T00:00:00Z20242026-06-02T21:57:02.346Z2025-08-23T03:05:28.633ZS-EPMC112862823907434810.1371/journal.pone.0304144