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Germ cell specification in Volvox carteri

¹Department of Biology, Washington University, St Louis, MO 63130.

Ciba Foundation Symposium

|January 1, 1994

Summary

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Volvox carteri demonstrates germ-soma differentiation, where large cells become reproductive germ cells and small cells form mortal somatic cells. This process is controlled by specific genetic loci regulating cell fate.

Area of Science:

Developmental biology
Cell biology
Evolutionary biology

Background:

Volvox carteri exemplifies Weismann's germ-soma theory, featuring an immortal germline within a mortal soma.
Adult V. carteri possess distinct germ (gonidia) and somatic (biflagellate) cells arranged spherically.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the cellular and genetic mechanisms underlying germ-soma differentiation in Volvox carteri.
To investigate the role of cell size and genetic factors in determining germ vs. somatic cell fate.

Main Methods:

Observation of asymmetric cleavage during early development.
Experimental analysis of cell size determinants for germ-soma fate.
Mutational and molecular studies to identify key genetic loci (gls, lag, regA).

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

Asymmetric cleavage establishes distinct large gonidial initials and small somatic initials.
Cell size, not cytoplasmic factors, dictates germinal or somatic cell fate.
A genetic cascade involving gls, lag, and regA loci controls germ-soma gene expression.

Conclusions:

Volvox carteri provides a model for germ-soma differentiation driven by initial cell size differences.
Genetic loci regulate the suppression of somatic or germline genes, establishing cell fate.
This study clarifies the molecular basis of the germ-soma dichotomy in a model organism.