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Studying Whole-Genome Duplication Using Experimental Evolution of Chlamydomonas
Quinten Bafort1,2,3, Lucas Prost4,5,6, Eylem Aydogdu7,8
1Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. quinten.bafort@psb.ugent.be.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|January 31, 2023
Summary
This chapter details using Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to study whole genome duplication's evolutionary effects. It outlines experimental methods for ploidy manipulation and analysis in this model organism.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Microbiology
Background:
- Whole genome duplication (WGD) is a significant evolutionary mechanism.
- Chlamydomonas reinhardtii serves as a powerful model organism for experimental evolution studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a framework for using Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in WGD evolution experiments.
- To detail methodologies for ploidy manipulation and analysis in Chlamydomonas.
Main Methods:
- Strain selection and ploidy determination.
- Induction of diploid and polyploid Chlamydomonas cells.
- Experimental culturing, preservation, and phenotypic/genotypic change quantification.
Main Results:
- Established protocols for generating and analyzing polyploid Chlamydomonas.
- Demonstrated the utility of Chlamydomonas for studying WGD impacts.
Conclusions:
- Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is an effective model for investigating evolutionary consequences of whole genome duplication.
- Detailed experimental design steps facilitate robust ploidy-related research.
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