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Emergence of Ectocarpus as a Model System to Study the Evolution of Complex Multicellularity in the Brown Algae

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Evolutionary Transitions to Multicellular Life

Part of the book series: Advances in Marine Genomics ((AMGE,volume 2))

Abstract

In contrast to the situation in land plants and animals, very little information is available concerning the molecular mechanisms underlying multicellular development in the brown algae. Historically, one of the reasons for this has been the lack of an effective model organism for the latter group that would permit the application of powerful genomic and genetic approaches to explore these processes. This situation has changed in recent years with the emergence of the filamentous brown alga Ectocarpus as a model organism. This chapter describes the genetic and genomic resources that are currently available for this organism and describes some of the additional tools that are under development. Potential additional models that would provide access to the biological diversity within the brown algae are also discussed, with a particular focus on the evolution of multicellular complexity within this group.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CNRS, UMR 8227, Integrative Biology of Marine Models, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CS 90074, 29688, Roscoff cedex, France

    J. Mark Cock, Olivier Godfroy, Martina Strittmatter, Delphine Scornet, Toshiki Uji, Garry Farnham, Akira F Peters & Susana M Coelho

  2. The Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, PL1 2PB, Plymouth, Devon, UK

    Garry Farnham

  3. Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, PL1 3DH, Plymouth, UK

    Garry Farnham

  4. Bezhin Rosko, 40 Rue des pêcheurs, 29250, Santec, France

    Akira F Peters

Authors
  1. J. Mark Cock
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  2. Olivier Godfroy
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  3. Martina Strittmatter
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  4. Delphine Scornet
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  5. Toshiki Uji
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  6. Garry Farnham
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  7. Akira F Peters
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  8. Susana M Coelho
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Mark Cock .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (UPF-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain

    Iñaki Ruiz-Trillo

  2. Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada

    Aurora M. Nedelcu

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Cock, J. et al. (2015). Emergence of Ectocarpus as a Model System to Study the Evolution of Complex Multicellularity in the Brown Algae. In: Ruiz-Trillo, I., Nedelcu, A. (eds) Evolutionary Transitions to Multicellular Life. Advances in Marine Genomics, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9642-2_8

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