A5047621714- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Algal biology and biofuel production
- Plant and animal studies
Georgia Institute of Technology
2018-2025
Indiana University Bloomington
2014-2019
ETH Zurich
2014-2019
The transition from unicellular to multicellular life was one of a few major events in the history that created new opportunities for more complex biological systems evolve. Predation is hypothesized as selective pressure may have driven evolution multicellularity. Here we show de novo origins simple multicellularity can evolve response predation. We subjected outcrossed populations green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii selection by filter-feeding predator Paramecium tetraurelia. Two five...
The evolution from unicellular to multicellular organisms facilitates further phenotypic innovations, notably cellular differentiation. Multiple research groups have shown that in the laboratory simple, obligate multicellularity can evolve a ancestor under appropriate selection. However, little is known about extent which deterministic factors such as ancestral genotype and environmental context influence likelihood of this evolutionary transition. To test whether certain genotypes are...
In animals and plants, non-coding small RNAs regulate the expression of many genes at post-transcriptional level. Recently, (sRNAs) have also been found to a variety important biological processes in bacteria, including social traits, but little is known about phylogenetic or mechanistic origins such bacterial sRNAs. Here we propose origin myxobacterial sRNA Pxr, which negatively regulates initiation fruiting body development Myxococcus xanthus as function nutrient level, examine its...
The total productivity of social groups can be determined by interactions among their constituents. Chimaeric load--the reduction group caused antagonistic within-group heterogeneity--may common in heterogeneous microbial due to dysfunctional behavioural between distinct individuals. However, some instances chimaerism microbes increase productivity, thus making a general relationship and group-level performance non-obvious. Using genetically similar strains the soil bacterium Myxococcus...
Non-coding small RNAs (sRNAs) regulate a variety of important biological processes across all life domains, including bacteria. However, little is known about the functional evolution sRNAs in bacteria, which might occur via changes sRNA structure and/or stability or interactions between and their associated regulatory networks, target mRNAs. The Pxr functions as developmental gatekeeper model cooperative bacterium Myxococcus xanthus. Specifically, prevents initiation fruiting body...
Summary The transition from unicellular to multicellular life was one of a few major events in the history that created new opportunities for more complex biological systems evolve. Predation is hypothesized as selective pressure may have driven evolution multicellularity. Here we show de novo origins simple multicellularity can evolve response predation. We subjected outcrossed populations green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii selection by filter-feeding predator Paramecium tetraurelia . Two...
Small non‐coding RNAs (sRNAs) control bacterial gene expression involved in a wide range of important cellular processes. In the highly social bacterium Myxococcus xanthus, sRNA Pxr prevents multicellular fruiting‐body development when nutrients are abundant. was discovered from evolution developmentally defective strain (OC) into proficient (PX). OC, is constitutively expressed and blocks even during starvation. PX, one mutation deactivates allowing to proceed. We screened for transposon...
The evolution from unicellular to multicellular organisms facilitates further phenotypic innovations, notably cellular differentiation. Multiple research groups have shown that in the laboratory simple, obligate multicellularity can evolve a ancestor under appropriate selection. However, little is known about extent which deterministic factors like ancestral genotype and environmental context influence likelihood of this evolutionary transition. To test whether certain genotypes are...