Top 7 papers in multicellularity

linkurl:1. Mushroom meiosis;http://f1000.com/5644956?key=gh79w26d4cdbx93 Comparisons of a multicellular mushroom with its unicellular yeast relatives reveals a conserved meiosis pathway, suggesting that meiotic genes are more conserved than non-meiotic genes, and more so than previously believed.C. Burns, et al., "Analysis of the Basidiomycete Coprinopsis cinerea reveals conservation of the core meiotic expression program over half a billion years of evolution," linkurl:PLoS Genet,;http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/20885784?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000%2Cf1000m 6: e1001135, 2010. Evaluated by Patrick Shiu, University of Missouri. linkurl:Free F1000 Evaluation;http://f1000.com/5644956?key=gh79w26d4cdbx93 linkurl:2. Lessons from brown algae;http://f1000.com/3626956?key=j98k0cgfkhsvjvg

Grounded Kelp
Image: flickr, InAweofGod'sCreation

In the first genomic analysis of a multicellular brown alga, researchers see an increase in membrane-spanning receptor kinases, relative to their unicellular diatom relatives. The kinases are a protein family involved in cellular differentiation and patterning in both animals and green plants, suggesting this family of proteins may have been key to the evolution of multicellularity in all three lineages. J.M. Cock, et al., "The Ectocarpus genome and the independent evolution of multicellularity in brown algae," linkurl:Nature,;http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/20520714?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000%2Cf1000m 465:617-21, 2010. Evaluated by John Bowman, Monash University. linkurl:Free F1000 Evaluation;http://f1000.com/3626956?key=j98k0cgfkhsvjvg linkurl:3. Unexpected sponge genes;http://f1000.com/4788960?key=q7cvxd7y9w7mcc6

Niphates callista (Tube sponge)
Image: Wikimedia commons, Nick Hobgood

The genome of a sponge, commonly considered one of the simplest and earliest animals, reveals genes known to be involved in the development of a neuromuscular system, which sponges lack. The findings suggest that the complex functions that come with multicellularity may have evolved from older genes, not newer genes, as many suspected. M. Srivastava, et al., "The Amphimedon queenslandica genome and the evolution of animal complexity," linkurl:Nature,;http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/20686567?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000%2Cf1000m 466:720-6, 2010. Evaluated by Yves Van de Peer, Ghent University; Naoki Irie and Shigeru Kuratani, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology; Douglas Erwin, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. linkurl:Free F1000 Evaluation;http://f1000.com/4788960?key=q7cvxd7y9w7mcc6 linkurl:4. Urchin axis development;http://f1000.com/2244956?key=vhql4z6mtjjstn9 Sea urchin embryos, whose backs are not easily distinguished from their bellies as in most other animals, do develop, on a molecular level, much the same way as both flies and vertebrates, supporting the idea of an ancient common ancestor for this patterning mechanism, despite drastic differences in the outward appearance of the embryos.F. Lapraz, et al., "Patterning of the dorsal-ventral axis in echinoderms: insights into the evolution of the BMP-chordin signaling network," linkurl:PLoS Biol,;http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/19956794?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000%2Cf1000m 7:e1000248, 2009. Evaluated by Siegfried Roth, University of Cologne. linkurl:Free F1000 Evaluation;http://f1000.com/2244956?key=vhql4z6mtjjstn9 linkurl:5. Multicellularity linked to cancer;http://f1000.com/4160956?key=r3gsv4rf1xgvpjw Examining the evolution of cancer genes, researchers demonstrate a long-suspected link to the evolution of multicellularity -- while many cancer genes likely arose at the time of the first cell, many others originated around the time of the first multicellular animals.T. Domazet-Loso and D. Tautz, "Phylostratigraphic tracking of cancer genes suggests a link to the emergence of multicellularity in metazoa," linkurl:BMC Biol,;http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/20492640?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000%2Cf1000m 8:66, 2010. Evaluated by Winston Hide, Harvard School of Public Health. linkurl:Free F1000 Evaluation;http://f1000.com/4160956?key=r3gsv4rf1xgvpjw linkurl:6. Ancient, conserved p53;http://f1000.com/2753957?key=wrww1t6mc1ffqps Two key components of the DNA damage response -- p53 and its regulator MDM2, previously only documented in vertebrates -- are present in simple multicellular Placozoans, and highly similar to the human versions, pointing to a more ancient origin of the two highly conserved proteins than was believed.D.P. Lane, et al., "Mdm2 and p53 are highly conserved from placozoans to man," linkurl:Cell Cycle,;http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/20081368?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000%2Cf1000m 9:540-7, 2010. Evaluated byChristiane Riedinger and Jane Endicott, University of Oxford. linkurl:Free F1000 Evaluation;http://f1000.com/2753957?key=wrww1t6mc1ffqps linkurl:7. Volvox like unicell cousin;http://f1000.com/5781966?key=01qz9rn7jdfxr72

Volvox
Image: flickr, stellarr

Similar to the sponge study, a thorough comparison of the genomes of Volvox carteri, a multicellular green alga, and its unicellular relative suggest that most uniquely multicellular traits arise by co-option of ancestral genes, rather than the appearance of new protein families.S.E. Prochnik, et al., "Genomic analysis of organismal complexity in the multicellular green alga Volvox carteri," linkurl:Science;http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/20616280?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000%2Cf1000m 329:223-6, 2010. Evaluated by Diego San Mauro and Rafael Zardoya, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales. linkurl:Free F1000 Evaluation;http://f1000.com/5781966?key=01qz9rn7jdfxr72 The F1000 Top 7 is a snapshot of the highest ranked articles pertaining to evolution and multicellularity from the last year on Faculty of 1000, as calculated on December 9, 2010. Faculty Members evaluate and rate the most important papers in their field. To see the latest rankings, search the database, and read daily evaluations, visit linkurl:http://f1000.com.;http://f1000.com.
**__Related stories:__***linkurl:From Simple To Complex;http://www.the-scientist.com/2011/1/1/38/1/
[January 2011]*linkurl:Spongy Genome;http://www.the-scientist.com/2010/12/1/58/1/
[December 2010]*linkurl:Earlier start to multicellular life?;http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/57539/
[30th June 2010]