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SUMMARY:Plenary Lecture 8: Algal-bacterial consortia and evolution of mutu
 alism - Smith\, AG (University of Cambridge)
DTSTART:20140911T102500Z
DTEND:20140911T105500Z
UID:TALK54160@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Mustapha Amrani
DESCRIPTION:Co-authors: Katherine Helliwell (University of Cambridge)\, El
 ena Kazamia (University of Cambridge)\, Matthew Cooper (University of Camb
 ridge)\, Vaibhav Bhardwaj (University of Cambridge)\, Christian Ridley (Un
 iversity of Cambridge)\, Johan Kudahl (University of Cambridge) \n\nOver h
 alf of all microalgae require an external source of vitamins\, particularl
 y vitamin B12 (cobalamin)\, to enable them to grow. There is no phylogenet
 ic relationship between those that require the vitamin and those that do n
 ot. Bacteria are the only organisms that can synthesise this complex organ
 ic micronutrient\, and we have shown that B12-dependent algae can grow in 
 co-culture with bacteria that supply them the vitamin in exchange for fixe
 d carbon. We have established a model system to study this interaction at 
 the molecular level\, and to explore reasons for why vitamin auxotrophy ma
 y have arisen so frequently across the diverse algal lineages. This may pr
 ovide insights into the evolution of mutualism between algae and their bac
 terial partners.\n
LOCATION:Seminar Room 1\, Newton Institute
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