Is algae prokaryotic or eukaryotic?

Algae can be either prokaryotic or eukaryotic, depending on the type of algae you are referring to.

Prokaryotic Algae: Cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae, are prokaryotic. They belong to the domain Bacteria and lack a true membrane-bound nucleus. Despite their name, they are not true algae in the biological sense but are often included in discussions about algae due to their similar appearance.

Eukaryotic Algae: Most of the organisms commonly referred to as algae are eukaryotic. These include a diverse group of photosynthetic organisms, such as green algae, brown algae, red algae, and diatoms. Eukaryotic algae have true membrane-bound nuclei and are more closely related to plants than to prokaryotic cyanobacteria.

So, to summarize, prokaryotic algae are represented by cyanobacteria, while eukaryotic algae encompass a wide range of photosynthetic organisms.