Nicole King and Iñaki Ruiz-Trillo Lead Research on Synthetic Organisms to Understand Multicellular Evolution

What's Happening?

Nicole King at the University of California, Berkeley, and Iñaki Ruiz-Trillo at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Barcelona are leading research on synthetic organisms to explore the evolution of multicellular life. Their work focuses on eukaryotes, which have a nucleus, and includes developing more than a dozen species into model organisms. These organisms, such as choanoflagellates and filastereans, occasionally form colonies, offering insights into the evolutionary paths that led to animals. The research aims to understand how unicellular organisms transitioned to multicellularity, a process that occurred at least 40 times across known life forms.

Why It's Important?

Understanding the evolution of multicellularity is crucial for comprehending the origins of complex life forms, including animals, plants, and fungi. This research could provide insights into the genetic and molecular mechanisms that enabled cells to stick together, communicate, and specialize, which are essential for multicellular life. The findings may have implications for evolutionary biology, genetics, and molecular biology, potentially leading to advancements in these fields and offering new perspectives on the development of life on Earth.