Biology
The genome of four Plasmodium species—Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium knowlesi, Plasmodium vivax, and Plasmodium yoelii—have been sequenced. All these species have genomes of about 25 megabases organised into 14 chromosomes consistent with earlier estimates. The chromosomes vary in length from 500 kilobases to 3.5 megabases and it is presumed that this is the pattern throughout the genus.
The plasmodium contains a degenerated chloroplast called an apicoplast.
The biology of these organisms is more fully described at Plasmodium falciparum biology page.
Read more about this topic: Plasmodium
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