Genome sequencing reveals minimalistic multicellularity toolkit in slime mould Acrasis kona
By
Georgy Kurakin
1d ago· 12 min readenNews
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Summary
This article discusses the genetic basis of aggregative multicellularity in the slime mould Acrasis kona. Unlike most multicellular organisms we see daily (animals, plants, fungi), which develop through complex pathways, Acrasis kona exhibits a simpler, minimalistic form of multicellularity. Recent genome and transcriptome sequencing has revealed the genetic toolkit behind this aggregative multicellularity, shedding light on an alternative evolutionary pathway to multicellular life.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledWe are surrounded by multicellular life, and it is the way of living we have been long accustomed for.
Almost all the living world we see every day with the naked eye is multicellular, including animals, plants, even algae and fungi.
All these multicellular organisms have quite different development pathways.
Until recently, the genetic basis of aggregative multicellularity in a slime mould Acrasis kona remained obscure. Genome and transcriptome sequencing reveals its minimalistic multicellularity toolkit.
