In red algae, a cell or cluster of cells that develops into a cystocarp, which contains spores.
From Greek gonos (generation) + blastos (sprout, bud). Coined in 19th-century phycology to describe the generative structures seen in red algal reproduction.
Red algae are reproductive masterminds—after sexual fertilization, the gonimoblast transforms into a cystocarp, creating an extra protective case for spores before they're released into the ocean.
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