Department of Biology
Dr. Hajk-Georg Drost - University of Dundee
Wednesday 14 May 2025, 1.00PM to 14:00
Speaker(s): Dr. Hajk-Georg Drost - University of Dundee
The formation of multicellularity to form body plans is among the most transformative innovations of living systems, allowing for cellular specialization, coordinated development such as embryogenesis. While independent origins of multicellularity have been documented for animals, plants, fungi and algae, a striking commonality is the reliance on ancient gene networks that predate the emergence of multicellular organisms. In this talk, we will explore a universal evolutionary developmental pattern underlying multicellularity formation. Using evolutionary transcriptomics as an emerging technology to study the evolution of developmental programs, we will discuss how to infer the key genes that are “responsible” for these patterns for further mechanistic exploration. Understanding how ancient genes constrain multicellularity not only captures the deep evolutionary history of complex life but also provides insight into the genetic basis of multicellular replication, developmental robustness and plasticity as a means of niche adaptation and speciation.
Location: B/K/018, Dianna Bowles Lecture Theatre