Regulated aggregative multicellularity in a close unicellular relative of metazoa

Abstract

The evolution of metazoans from their unicellular ancestors was one of the most important evolutionary transitions. While previous work has established that many cell-type-specific gene families evolved before the origin of metazoans, the regulatory mechanisms that pattern tissue-specific expression remain largely unknown. Here we examine the unicellular holozoan Capsaspora owczarzaki and show that it has a life cycle with three distinct cell types.

Javier del Campo

Group Leader

My research aims at understanding the global diversity and distribution of eukaryotic and prokaryotic microbes employing curated phylogenetic frameworks focusing on novel environmental taxa.