Life cycle strategies in free‐living unicellular eukaryotes: Diversity, evolution, and current molecular tools to unravel the private life of microorganisms

Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 71(6)

Опубликована: Июль 31, 2024

An astonishing range of morphologies and life strategies has arisen across the vast diversity protists, allowing them to thrive in most environments. In model like Tetrahymena, Dictyostelium, or Trypanosoma, cycles involving multiple stages with different have been well characterized. contrast, knowledge free-living which primarily consist uncultivated environmental lineages, remains largely fragmentary. Various lineage-specific cellular innovations observed field for but such generally lack functional characterization unknown physiological ecological roles. actual state knowledge, evidence sexual processes is confirmed 20% protist lineages. Nevertheless, at onset eukaryotic diversification, common molecular trends emerged promote genetic recombination, establishing sex as an inherent feature protists. Here, we review from viewpoint cycle transitions genetics major We focus on scarcely summarizing its existence describing key genes governing progression, as, current methods studying both cultivable groups.

Язык: Английский

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On the prospects of basal cognition research becoming fully evolutionary: promising avenues and cautionary notes

History & Philosophy of the Life Sciences, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 47(1)

Опубликована: Фев. 6, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Does a complex life cycle affect adaptation to environmental change? Genome-informed insights for characterizing selection across complex life cycle

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 288(1964)

Опубликована: Дек. 1, 2021

Complex life cycles, in which discrete stages of the same organism differ form or function and often occupy different ecological niches, are common nature. Because share genome, selective effects on one stage may have cascading consequences through entire cycle. Theoretical empirical studies not yet generated clear predictions about how cycle complexity will influence patterns adaptation response to rapidly changing environments tested theoretical for fitness trade-offs (or lack thereof) across stages. We discuss complex evolution outline three hypotheses-ontogenetic decoupling, antagonistic ontogenetic pleiotropy synergistic pleiotropy-for selection operate organisms with cycles. suggest a within-generation experimental design that promises significant insight into composite As part this design, we conducted simulations determine power needed detect using population genetic framework. This analysis demonstrated recently published reporting were underpowered small allele frequency changes (approx. 0.1). The indicates challenging but attainable sampling requirements many systems, though plants marine invertebrates high fecundity excellent systems exploring cycles adapt climate change.

Язык: Английский

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Descriptive versus causal morphology: gynandromorphism and intersexuality

Theory in Biosciences, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 142(1), С. 1 - 11

Опубликована: Янв. 12, 2023

In animal species with separate sexes, abnormal individuals a mix of phenotypically male and female body parts are generally indicated as gynandromorphs, whereas intermediate sexual phenotypic traits intersexes. However, this distinction, clear it may seem, is neither universally agreed upon, nor free critical issues. consideration the role sex anomalies in understanding normal development, we reassess these phenomena taking into more recent advances study determination differentiation. We argue that distinction between gynandromorphism intersexuality, although useful for descriptive purposes, not always possible or sensible. discuss conceptual terminological intricacies literature on subject provide reasons largely, strictly, preferring terminology based rather than causal morphology, is, observed patterns process behind them.

Язык: Английский

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Pregnant Females as Historical Individuals: An Insight From the Philosophy of Evo-Devo

Frontiers in Psychology, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 11

Опубликована: Янв. 20, 2021

Criticisms of the "container" model pregnancy picturing female and embryo as separate entities multiply in various philosophical scientific contexts during last decades. In this paper, we examine how underlies received views evolutionary biology, characterization transition from oviparity to viviparity mammals selectionist explanations an strategy. contrast, recent evo-devo studies on eutherian reproduction, including role inflammation new maternal cell types, gather evidence favor considering evolved relational novelty. Our thesis is that perspective can identify emergence a historical individual evolution. evo-devo, units are conceptualized which fulfill two main criteria, their continuous persistence non-exchangeability. As be individuated way, contend pregnant females individuals. We argue individuality differs from, coexists with, other biological applied (the physiological, ecological one), but brings forward important insight might help dissolve misguided conceptions.

Язык: Английский

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Slime Mould and Philosophy

Опубликована: Дек. 10, 2024

Physarum polycephalum, also known more colloquially as 'the blob', 'acellular slime mould', or just 'slime is a unicellular multinucleate protist that has continued to attract the interest of biologists over past century because its complex life cycle, unique physiology, morphology, and behaviour. More recently, attention shifted model organism for investigating putative cognitive capacities such decision making, learning, memory in organisms without nervous systems. The aim this Element illustrate how can be used valuable tool approaching various topics philosophy biology. behaviour not only pose challenge some received views biological processes but also, I shall argue, provide an opportunity clarify appropriately sharpen concepts underlying views.

Язык: Английский

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Body Plan Identity: A Mechanistic Model

Evolutionary Biology, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 49(2), С. 123 - 141

Опубликована: Март 21, 2022

Язык: Английский

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On the Nature of Organs and Organ Systems – A Chapter in the History and Philosophy of Biology

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 9

Опубликована: Дек. 3, 2021

Contrasting definitions of organs based either on function or strictly morphological criteria are the legacy a tradition starting with Aristotle. This floating characterization in terms both form and extends also to organ systems. The first section this review outlines notions body part as defined, explicitly implicitly, representative works nineteenth century’s comparative morphology. lack clear distinction between two led problems Owen’s approach method (definition homolog vs. nature vertebrate archetype) paradoxical formulation, by Anton Dohrn, principle functional change. Starting from second half twentieth century, extensive use data phylogenetic analyses, – have been often set aside, leave room for comparison variously characterized attributes (character states) taxa be compared. Throughout last centuries, there efforts characterize parts underlying developmental dynamics, context classical descriptive embryology according models suggested genetics. Functionally defined occasionally co-extensive morphologically parts, nevertheless former latter is necessary prerequisite study their evolution: issue discussed here example evolution hermaphroditism gonad structure function.

Язык: Английский

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Hermaphroditic origins of anisogamy

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 378(1876)

Опубликована: Март 20, 2023

Anisogamy—the size dimorphism of gametes—is the defining difference between male and female sexual strategies. Game-theoretic thinking led to first convincing explanation for evolutionary origins anisogamy in 1970s. Since then, formal game-theoretic models have continued refine our understanding when why should evolve. Such typically presume that earliest anisogamous organisms had separate sexes. However, most taxa, there is no empirical evidence support this assumption. Here, we present a model coevolution gamete sex allocation, which allows emerge alongside either hermaphroditism or We show hermaphroditic can evolve directly from isogamous ancestors average spawning groups small fertilization relatively efficient. Sex allocation under becomes increasingly female-biased as group decreases degree increases. When are very small, also predicts existence complex individuals allocate resources equally two large types. discuss common, but potentially unwarranted, assumptions literature could be relaxed future models. This article part theme issue ‘Half century games: synthesis theory, application directions’.

Язык: Английский

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Single-cell transcriptomics highlights sexual cues among reproductive life stages of uncultivated Acantharia (Radiolaria)

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Июль 2, 2024

Abstract As an innate property of life, the ability to reproduce is a key process for perpetuation organisms. Along evolution protist reproductive strategies, molecular machinery sexual recombination estimated have been inherited from last eukaryotic common ancestor (LECA). Nevertheless, unraveling cycles extant free-living lineages remains challenging, given enigmatic roles many uncultivated life stages. Among planktonic group Acantharia (Radiolaria), hypothetical cycle has proposed since late 19th century, including existence gamete-like stage undetermined ploidy, referred as swarmers. In order investigate nature acantharian stages, we conducted single-cell transcriptomic analysis across various Our results show distinct functional profiles and vegetative while revealing expression reference genes involved in gamete fusion, HAP2/GCS1 GEX1-KAR5, swarmers pre-swarmer Annotation differentially expressed stage-specific genes, also highlights putative meiosis-related functions among swarmers, suggesting potential swarmer/vegetative intermediate expressing growth-related genes. This original genetic data coherent with morphological evidence supporting cycle, acting gametes. Moreover, it paves way deeper understanding radiolarian cell biology ecology at scale. Highlights demonstrate both Acantharian stages are enriched related division Nuclear fusion gene family GEX1-KAR5 up-regulated gametes Most specific unassigned Reproduction-specific include sex-related

Язык: Английский

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