Cyanobacteria are a very large and diverse phylum of photoautotrophic prokaryotes. They are defined by their unique combination of pigments and their ability to perform oxygenic photosynthesis. … Cyanobacteria are a group of photosynthetic bacteria evolutionarily optimized for environmental conditions of low oxygen.

Why are cyanobacteria important?

Cyanobacteria played an important role in the evolution of Early Earth and the biosphere. They are responsible for the oxygenation of the atmosphere and oceans since the Great Oxidation Event around 2.4 Ga, debatably earlier.

What is cyanobacteria and why is it important for the world?

Cyanobacteria are responsible for the Earth’s transition from a carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere to the present relatively oxygen-rich atmosphere as a consequence of oxygenic photosynthesis [3].