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Title: | Phenotypic plasticity through disposable genetic adaptation in ciliates | Authors: | VERDONCK, Rik Legrand, Delphine Jacob , Staffan Philippe, Herve |
Issue Date: | 2022 | Publisher: | ELSEVIER SCI LTD | Source: | TRENDS IN MICROBIOLOGY, 30 (2) , p. 120 -130 | Abstract: | Ciliates have an extraordinary genetic system in which each cell harbors two distinct kinds of nucleus, a transcriptionally active somatic nucleus and a quiescent germline nucleus. The latter undergoes classical, heritable genetic adaptation, while adaptation of the somatic nucleus is only short-term and thus disposable. The ecological and evolutionary relevance of this nuclear dimorphism have never been well formalized, which is surprising given the long history of using ciliates such as Tetrahymena and Paramecium as model organisms. We present a novel, alternative explanation for ciliate nuclear dimorphism which, we argue, should be considered an instrument of phenotypic plasticity by somatic selection on the level of the ciliate clone, as if it were a diffuse multicellular organism. This viewpoint helps to put some enigmatic aspects of ciliate biology into perspective and presents the diversity of ciliates as a large natural experiment that we can exploit to study phenotypic plasticity and organismality. | Notes: | Verdonck, R (corresponding author), CNRS, Stn Ecol Theor & Expt, UPR 5321, Moulis, France.; Verdonck, R (corresponding author), Hasselt Univ, Ctr Environm Sci, Environm Biol, Diepenbeek, Belgium. rik.verdonck@gmail.com |
Keywords: | Weismann barrier;ciliates;intergenomic conflict;organismality;phenotypic plasticity;ploidy;somatic selection | Document URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/1942/36621 | ISSN: | 0966-842X | e-ISSN: | 1878-4380 | DOI: | 10.1016/j.tim.2021.06.007 | ISI #: | 000743513100006 | Rights: | 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Category: | A1 | Type: | Journal Contribution | Validations: | ecoom 2023 |
Appears in Collections: | Research publications |
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Phenotypic plasticity through disposable genetic adaptation in ciliates.pdf Restricted Access | Published version | 2.29 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open Request a copy |
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