Volvox

A Search for the Molecular and Genetic Origins of Multicellularity and Cellular Differentiation
Erscheinungsjahr 2005
ISBN: 978-0-521-01914-9
Verlag: Cambridge University Press

Buch, Englisch, Band 33, 399 Seiten, Format (B × H): 152 mm x 229 mm, Gewicht: 647 g

Reihe: Developmental and Cell Biology Series

The central thesis of this book is that Volvox and its unicellular and colonial relatives provide a wholly unrivalled opportunity to explore the proximate and ultimate causes underlying the evolution, from unicellular ancestors, of multicellular organisms with fully differentiated cell types. A major portion of the book is devoted to reviewing what is known about the genetic, cellular and molecular basis of development in the most extensively studied species of Volvox: V. cateri, which exhibits a complete division of labour between mortal somatic cells and immortal germ cells. However, this topic has been put in context by first considering the ecological conditions and cytological preconditions that appear to have fostered the evolution of organisms of progressively increasing size and with progressively increasing tendency to produce terminally differentiated somatic cells. The book concludes by raising the question of whether the germensoma dichotomy may have evolved by similar or different genetic pathways in different species of Volvox. Biologists and phycologists interested in development, genetics and cellular evolution will find this a fascinating work.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Kirk, David L.

Bard, Jonathan B. L.

Barlow, Peter W.

Fachgebiete

• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Biowissenschaften Evolutionsbiologie
• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Botanik Phykologie, Algen, Flechten, Lichen

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Prologue; 1. Introduction; 2. The volvocales: many cellular innovations; 3. Ecological factors fostering the evolution of Volvox; 4. Cytological features fostering the evolution of Volvox; 5. Volvox V. Carteri: a Rosetta stone for deciphering the origins of cytodifferentiation; 6. Mutational analysis of the V. Carteri development program; 7. Molecular analysis of V. Carteri genes and development; Epilogue; References.