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Biology

Smith College

Eukaryotic diversity

Publication Year

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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Opinion: Genetic Conflict With Mobile Elements Drives Eukaryotic Genome Evolution, And Perhaps Also Eukaryogenesis, Adena B. Collens, Laura A. Katz Mar 2021

Opinion: Genetic Conflict With Mobile Elements Drives Eukaryotic Genome Evolution, And Perhaps Also Eukaryogenesis, Adena B. Collens, Laura A. Katz

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Through analyses of diverse microeukaryotes, we have previously argued that eukaryotic genomes are dynamic systems that rely on epigenetic mechanisms to distinguish germline (i.e., DNA to be inherited) from soma (i.e., DNA that undergoes polyploidization, genome rearrangement, etc.), even in the context of a single nucleus. Here, we extend these arguments by including two well-documented observations: (1) eukaryotic genomes interact frequently with mobile genetic elements (MGEs) like viruses and transposable elements (TEs), creating genetic conflict, and (2) epigenetic mechanisms regulate MGEs. Synthesis of these ideas leads to the hypothesis that genetic conflict with MGEs contributed to the evolution of a …


Microbial Diversity In The Eukaryotic Sar Clade: Illuminating The Darkness Between Morphology And Molecular Data, Jean David Grattepanche, Laura M. Walker, Brittany M. Ott, Daniela L. Paim Pinto, Charles F. Delwiche, Christopher E. Lane, Laura A. Katz Apr 2018

Microbial Diversity In The Eukaryotic Sar Clade: Illuminating The Darkness Between Morphology And Molecular Data, Jean David Grattepanche, Laura M. Walker, Brittany M. Ott, Daniela L. Paim Pinto, Charles F. Delwiche, Christopher E. Lane, Laura A. Katz

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Despite their diversity and ecological importance, many areas of the SAR—Stramenopila, Alveolata, and Rhizaria—clade are poorly understood as the majority (90%) of SAR species lack molecular data and only 5% of species are from well-sampled families. Here, we review and summarize the state of knowledge about the three major clades of SAR, describing the diversity within each clade and identifying synapomorphies when possible. We also assess the “dark area” of SAR: the morphologically described species that are missing molecular data. The majority of molecular data for SAR lineages are characterized from marine samples and vertebrate hosts, highlighting the need for …