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Related Concept Videos

Red Algae01:23

Red Algae

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Red algae, also known as rhodophytes, are primarily found in marine environments, though some species inhabit freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. These organisms exist in both unicellular and multicellular forms, with some multicellular varieties reaching macroscopic sizes.As phototrophic organisms, red algae contain chlorophyll a; however, their chloroplasts lack chlorophyll b. Instead, they possess phycobiliproteins, which serve as major light-harvesting pigments, similar to those found in...
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Green Algae01:21

Green Algae

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Green algae, also referred to as chlorophytes, are different from red algae in having the chloroplasts containing chlorophylls a and b, which give them their distinct green hue. However, they lack phycobiliproteins, preventing them from developing the red or blue-green pigmentation seen in red algae. In terms of photosynthetic pigment composition, green algae closely resemble plants and share a close evolutionary relationship with them. Taxonomically Green algae belong to Phylum Chlorophyta in...
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Overview of Algae01:28

Overview of Algae

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The kingdom Archaeplastida encompasses red and green algae, along with land plants. Unlike other protists with chloroplasts that arose through secondary endosymbiosis, only red and green algae originated from primary endosymbiotic events. This diverse group of eukaryotic organisms contains chlorophyll and performs oxygenic photosynthesis.Algae exist in various forms, from large brown kelp in coastal waters to green scum in puddles and stains on rocks or soil. Some species are responsible for...
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Other Algae01:19

Other Algae

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The group Stramenopiles include some phototrophic microorganisms. Members of this group possess flagella covered in numerous short, hairlike extensions, a feature that inspired the group's name, derived from the Latin words for "straw" and "hair." Some of the main categories of Stramenopiles include diatoms, golden algae, and brown algae.Diatoms are unicellular, photosynthetic eukaryotes, with over 200 known genera. They play a key role in the planktonic communities of both marine and...
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Animal and Plant Cell Structure01:30

Animal and Plant Cell Structure

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Animal and plant cells not only differ in their structure, function, and mode of nutrition but also in how they reproduce, specialize, and organize into complex structures.
Cell Division
Though both plant and animal cells divide by mitosis (for non-gametic cells) and meiosis (for gametic cells), they differ in the specifics of this process. Unlike animal cells, plant cells lack centrosomes — an organelle responsible for organizing the spindle fibers and segregating the chromosomes during...
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Eukaryotic Evolution01:24

Eukaryotic Evolution

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The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the nucleus-first hypothesis, the ancestral prokaryote first evolved a membrane to enclose DNA and form the nucleus. Conversely, the mitochondria-first hypothesis suggests that the nucleus was formed after endosymbiosis of mitochondria.
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...
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Reactivation of Demembranated Cell Models in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
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Green Algal Models for Multicellularity.

James Umen1, Matthew D Herron2

  • 1Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri 63132, USA;

Annual Review of Genetics
|September 21, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The evolution of multicellularity occurred multiple times in algae, the closest relatives of land plants. This review examines the genetics and evolution of multicellularity in diverse algae groups.

Keywords:
CaulerpaCharaUlvaVolvoxcellular differentiationevolution

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genetics
  • Algal Biology

Background:

  • Multicellularity has evolved repeatedly, significantly impacting Earth's ecosystems.
  • Photosynthetic eukaryotes (algae) are key groups where multicellularity originated multiple times.
  • Green algae are closely related to land plants, offering insights into early multicellular evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the evolution and genetics of multicellularity in various green algae groups.
  • To explore genetic and genomic resources for studying multicellularity.
  • To propose algae as model organisms for multicellularity research.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on algal life cycles, phylogeny, and genetics.
  • Analysis of traits relevant to the evolution of multicellularity.
  • Assessment of available genetic and genomic resources.

Main Results:

  • Detailed examination of multicellularity in volvocine algae, *Ulva*, *Chara*, and *Caulerpa*.
  • Identification of key genetic factors and evolutionary pathways.
  • Highlighting the diversity of multicellular forms and strategies in algae.

Conclusions:

  • Green algae provide excellent models for understanding the evolution of multicellularity.
  • Further research into algal genetics and genomics can illuminate fundamental biological processes.
  • Comparative studies across different algal lineages are crucial for evolutionary insights.