The Delwiche Lab
Molecular Systematics

Personnel

Research Summary

We study early events in the evolution of plants, particularly the endosymbiotic origin of plastids (chloroplasts), and the origin of land plants (i.e., embryophytes) from green algae, using molecular systematic and genomic methods -- an approach that is now sometimes called "phylogenomics." We combine modern molecular methods, including gene and genome sequencing, computer analysis, and a variety of instrumental methods, with more classical methods and field work. By comparing the properties of living organisms we can gain insight into their common ancestors. In our work on the evolution of chloroplasts we have primarily concentrated on dinoflagellates, but have also worked on haptophytes and heterokonts. Our work on the origin of land plants primarily emphasizes the Charophyte Green Algae (also called Streptophytes).

Current Projects

Green Genes
Microbial Genome Sequencing: EST Survey of Charophycean Algae (2006-2009) - This project will sample over 70,000 ESTs (expressed sequence tags) from seven select charophyte green algae. It is a collaborative project with Jonathan Eisen at UC Davis and Caren Chang at UMCP. [NSF/USDA Microbial Genomes Program]

Dinoflagellate Tree of LifeAToL: An Integrated Approach to the Phylogeny of Dinoflagellates (2007-2012) - This project aims to develop a well-resolved phylogeny for dinoflagellates based largely on nuclear, protein-coding genes, and representing both photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic species. [NSF Assembling the Tree of Life program]

Recent and Interesting Publications

Karol, K. G., R. M. McCourt, M. T. Cimino, and C. F. Delwiche. 2001. The closest living relatives of land plants. Science 294:2351-2353.

Sanchez-Puerta, M. V., J. C. Lippmeier, K. E. Apt, and C. F. Delwiche. 2007. Plastid genes in a non-photosynthetic dinoflagellate. Protist 158:105-117.

Delwiche, C. F. 2007. Algae in the warp and weave of life: bound by plastids. Pp. In Press in J. Brodie, and J. Lewis, eds. Unraveling the Algae: The Past, Present, and Future of Algal Systematics. Taylor and Francis Group LLC, Boca Raton, FL.

Delwiche, C. F. 2007. The origin and evolution of dinoflagellates. Pp. In press in P. G. Falkowski, and A. H. Knoll, eds. Evolution of Primary Producers of the Sea. Elsevier, New York, NY.

Johnson, M. D., D. Oldach, C. F. Delwiche, and D. K. Stoecker. 2007. Retention of transcriptionally active cryptophyte nuclei by the ciliate Myrionecta rubra. Nature 445:426-428. (A collaboration, the primary work was done in the Stoecker lab)

Lab Resources

Gallery

Systematics in the green algal class Charophyceae (the basal streptophytes)

The charophycean algae

Evolution of plastids in dinoflagellates

The plastids of dinoflagellates