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SUMMARY:Bdelloid rotifers: unveiling the mystery of an evolutionary scanda
 l - Chiara Boschetti (University of Cambridge)
DTSTART:20141126T130000Z
DTEND:20141126T140000Z
UID:TALK55509@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Jeremy Solly
DESCRIPTION:Bdelloid rotifers are small aquatic invertebrates mainly famou
 s for their ability to survive harsh environmental conditions\, like extre
 me water loss or ionizing radiation\, and for their status as ancient asex
 uals. Different explanations have been suggested to account for their extr
 eme resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses\, but the recent publication
 s of their transcriptome and draft genome point to a previously unforeseen
  mechanism. As many as 10% of their active genes have been acquired by hor
 izontal gene transfer from other organisms which are not direct ancestors\
 , and at least some of them are likely to participate to stress response s
 trategies. I will explore bdelloids' unusual characteristics and our most 
 recent findings to support this idea\, and link them to our current unders
 tanding of evolution.\n
LOCATION:Part II Lecture Theatre\, Department of Zoology
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