UC Riverside assistant professor of bioengineering and lead study author Tingting Xiang, and researcher Jinkerson made a surprising discovery amidst a spark of interest towards an algae species that lives in coral. While conducting research for the algae species living conditions, another discovery was made. Thanks to the mutants used before, researchers discovered the gene responsible for chlorophyll c production. This makes a specific chlorophyll found in marine algae. With this finding, there is a great possibility that it could help crop yields in the future by implanting this gene to land plants.