Dr. Susan Brawley
Professor
School of Marine Sciences
University of Maine
Fossil evidence shows that red algae (Rhodophyta) are one of the most ancient multicellular lineages (1.6 billion years old). Despite their ecological, evolutionary, and commercial importance, few red algal nuclear genomes have been sequenced. This seminar presents results from the recently completed Porphyra umbilicalis (“laver”) sequencing project and shows why the imprint of red algal metabolism on biogeochemical cycling, aquatic food webs, and human health is so strong. Traits encoded in the nuclear genome offer a potential explanation for why red algae are small compared to other multicellular organisms, and to the high nutritional value of laver as human food.
Polycom availability with Darling Marine Center, Gulf of Maine Research Institute, and Bigelow Laboratories
Host: Rebecca Van Beneden (rebeccav@maine.edu)