Origins of Multicellularity RNA Sequencing. Eukaryota

This project aims to sequence the RNA from several protists and fungi to investigate the origins of multicellularity. A comprehensive identification of genes involved in multicellularity requires an understanding of the ancestral steps that led to multicellularity. A set of species that is not too divergent but that still represents the spectrum of extant descendants of unicellular and fungal ancestors has been chosen for sequencing. It is anticipated that this project will fill crucial gaps in the understanding of animal and fungal evolution, thus providing comprehensive data with which to conduct meaningful comparative genomic analyses of animals, fungi and their unicellular relatives.