The modern molecular approach of nucleic acid sequence comparison will be combined with the latest computer-aided cladistic analyses to answer fundamental questions about the evolutionary relationships and taxonomy of a widely known and frequently used algal unicell, Chlamydomonas and its relatives. Drs. Mark Buchheim and Russell Chapman at Louisiana State University have gathered preliminary evidence that indicates that many of the 500 or so described species of Chlamydomonas are not valid and that textbook examples of the evolution of motile colonies of algae from unicellular Chlamydomonas must be re- examined. The extensive use of this organism and some of its relatives in cell biology and molecular biology research, as well as its prominence in virtually all textbook coverages of green algae, make the study of this eukaryote unicell especially important. Nuclear encoded ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequences will be obtained through direct sequence analysis using reverse transcriptase enzymes or through polymerase chain reaction amplification of ribosomal DNA. Sequences are aligned by computer and used as characters for taxonomic evaluation of the most likely pattern of phylogenetic splitting leading to the several subgroups of Chlamydomonas currently recognized. The phylogeny so obtained will test whether colonial or multicellular forms of green algae have evolved only once or several times, and from what likely ancestral lineages.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Environmental Biology (DEB)
Application #
8918564
Program Officer
James E. Rodman
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
1990-03-01
Budget End
1992-10-01
Support Year
Fiscal Year
1989
Total Cost
$134,800
Indirect Cost
Name
Louisiana State University & Agricultural and Mechanical College
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Baton Rouge
State
LA
Country
United States
Zip Code
70803