Abstract: Genetically engineered algae strains for biofuels and bioproduct production have improved iron utilization including iron uptake and storage, and exhibit improved growth characteristics, magnetic separation, and magnetic hysteresis induced cell lysis. Pond production algal strain embodiments with high iron scavenging capabilities limit iron availability to contaminating microorganisms and invading species. Accumulation of high iron and other paramagnetic elements content in the form of ferritin enhances the cells magnetic susceptibility improving efficiency of magnetic separation and magnetic hysteresis induced cell lysis. Several genes of the embodiments are capable of improving iron acquisition including the ferritin gene fer1, iron transport gene fea1, and iron reductase gene fre1.