Volvox carteri

Volvox carteri
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Clade: Viridiplantae
Division: Chlorophyta
Class: Chlorophyceae
Order: Chlamydomonadales
Family: Volvocaceae
Genus: Volvox
Species:
V. carteri
Binomial name
Volvox carteri
F.Stein 1878

Volvox carteri[1] is a species of colonial green algae in the order Volvocales.[2] The V. carteri life cycle includes a sexual phase and an asexual phase. V. carteri forms small spherical colonies, or coenobia, of 2000–6000 Chlamydomonas-type somatic cells and 12–16 large, potentially immortal reproductive cells called gonidia.[3] While vegetative, male and female colonies are indistinguishable;[4] however, in the sexual phase, females produce 35-45 eggs[4] and males produce up to 50 sperm packets with 64 or 128 sperm each.[5]

The genome of this species of algae was sequenced in 2010.[6] Volvox carteri is a significant model organism for research into the evolution of multicellularity and organismal complexity, largely due to its simple differentiation into two cell types, versatility in controlled laboratory environments, and natural abundance.[7]

  1. ^ Stein, Friedrich Ritter (1878). "I. Hälfte, Den noch nicht abgeschlossenen allgemeinen Theil nebst erklärung". Der Organismus der Infusionsthiere nach eigenen forschungen in systematischere Reihenfolge bearbeitet. III. Abtheilung. Die Naturgeschichte der Flagellaten oder Geisselinfusorien (PDF) (in German). Wilhelm Engelmann. p. 134.
  2. ^ Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. "Volvox carteri". AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway.
  3. ^ Lee, Robert Edward (2005) [1999]. Phycology (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press.[page needed]
  4. ^ a b Geng, Sa; Miyagi, Ayano; Umen, James (2018). "Evolutionary divergence of the sex-determining gene MID uncoupled from the transition to anisogamy in volvocine algae" (PDF). Development. 145 (7): dev162537. doi:10.1242/dev.162537. PMC 5963870. PMID 29549112.
  5. ^ Herron, Matthew; Rashidi, Armin; Shelton, Deborah; Driscoll, William (2013). "Cellular differentiation and individuality in the 'minor' multicellular taxa: Differentiation and individuality". Biological Reviews. 88 (4): 844–861. doi:10.1111/brv.12031. PMC 4103886. PMID 23448295.
  6. ^ Prochnik SE, Umen J, Nedelcu AM, Hallmann A, Miller SM, Nishii I, Ferris P, Kuo A, et al. (2010). "Genomic analysis of organismal complexity in the multicellular green alga Volvox carteri". Science. 329 (5988): 223–226. Bibcode:2010Sci...329..223P. doi:10.1126/science.1188800. PMC 2993248. PMID 20616280.
  7. ^ Kirk, David L. (1997). Volvox. Washington University in St. Louis: Cambridge University Press. pp. 13–15. ISBN 9780511529740.