Green Algal Models for Multicellularity

James Umen, Matthew D. Herron

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

The repeated evolution of multicellularity across the tree of life has profoundly affected the ecology and evolution of nearly all life on Earth. Many of these origins were in different groups of photosynthetic eukaryotes, or algae. Here, we review the evolution and genetics of multicellularity in several groups of green algae, which include the closest relatives of land plants. These include millimeter-scale, motile spheroids of up to 50,000 cells in the volvocine algae; decimeter-scale seaweeds in the genus Ulva (sea lettuce); and very plantlike, meter-scale freshwater algae in the genus Chara (stoneworts). We also describe algae in the genus Caulerpa, which are giant, multinucleate, morphologically complex single cells. In each case, we review the life cycle, phylogeny, and genetics of traits relevant to the evolution of multicellularity, and genetic and genomic resources available for the group in question. Finally, we suggest routes toward developing these groups as model organisms for the evolution of multicellularity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)603-632
Number of pages30
JournalAnnual Review of Genetics
Volume55
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021

Keywords

  • Caulerpa
  • Chara
  • Ulva
  • Volvox
  • cellular differentiation
  • evolution

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