The Michod Lab is part of a multi-lab collaboration (Dr. Bradley J. S. C. Olson; Kansas State University, Dr. Hisayoshi Nozaki; University of Tokyo, Dr. Pierre Durand; University of Witwatersrand) and a NSF Collaborative Research Project (Dr. Bradley J. S. C. Olson; Kansas State University) to sequence the genomes of several volvocine algae. While the genomes of unicellular Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and multicellular Volvox carteri are previously published (Merchant et al. 2007, Prochnik et al. 2010), we are interested in a more detailed understanding of the genetic basis for the evolution of multicellularity. We are also interested to understanding how the order of genetic change relates to Dr. David Kirk’s 12 Step Program to Evolving Multicellularity at the phenotypic level. These projects will utilize the Volvocine algae, the most recent example of multicellular evolution, as a model system, with the goal of addressing a major gap in our knowledge of the genetic basis of multicellular evolution.
