A process for the production of hydrogen, comprising the steps of: (i)
providing a photosynthetic microorganism having electron transfer
capability through a photosynthetic light reaction pathway and through a
respiratory electron transfer chain involving an oxidative
phosphorylation pathway, and which expresses a hydrogenase, wherein
regulation of the oxidative phosphorylation pathway is disrupted with the
result that electron flow along the respiratory electron transfer chain
toward cytochrome oxidase (complex IV) is reduced; ii) culturing the
microorganism under microoxic and illuminated conditions; and (iii)
collecting evolved hydrogen.