Background
Across the tree of life, multicellularity has repeatedly evolved within some clades, such as the green algae, but not within other clades. Why has multicellularity evolved so many times in some lineages, but not others? In this project, we want to test the idea that multicellularity readily evolves from unicellular organisms that prolong their replicative (multicellular) life-stages under specific environmental conditions (“facultative multicellularity”). This project could yield new insights in how plasticity in the unicellular ancestors of multicellular green algae has preceded the evolution of obligate multicellularity.
Methods
- Experimental evolution of multicellularity using unicellular green algal lab cultures
- Machine learning classification of cell images
- Fluorescence measurements of cell growth
- Flow cytometry cell sorting to select for multicellularity
Learning opportunities
- Experimentation with green algal cultures
- Using state-of-the-art equipment for data collection
- Classify images with existing machine learning models
- Bayesian statistics
- Interplay of phenotypic plasticity and evolvability
Candidate profile
- Interest in conceptually motivated questions in evolutionary biology
- Basic knowledge of R and statistics
- Ability to work independently with support from the supervisors
- At least 45 ECTS project, but preferably 60 ECTS (start date flexible)
Contact details: Jan Kreider, jan.kreider@biol.lu.se; Charlie Cornwallis, charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se