EVOGENE Seminar - Genomes, genes and fungal multicellularity

László Nagy from the Fungal genomics & Evolution lab in Szeged, Hungary

László is a young and dynamic group leader with an interesting portfolio. His group focuses on the basic principles of genome evolution with an emphasis on the evolution of complexity and genomic mechanisms of parallel/convergent evolution. They combine phylogenetics with comparative and functional genomics to bring new insight to the field using the multitude of whole-genome.

Abstract: Complex multicellularity evolved animals, plants, some algae, and in multiple lineages of fungi. In fungi it comprises fruiting bodies, rhizomorphs, sclerotia and other 3-dimensional structures, the development of which from comparatively simpler vegetative mycelium are part of the life cycle. This makes fungi an ideal model to study the genetic bases of the transition to complex multicellularity. In this talk I focus on fruiting body formation in the Basidiomycota and its relation to genome and gene family evolution. I highlight hypotheses to explain both the multiple origins of fruiting body formation in fungi and the observation that complex multicellular fungi do not necessarily harbor larger genomes than simple multicellular of unicellular species.

Published May 15, 2017 1:25 PM - Last modified May 15, 2017 1:25 PM