The tiny eukaryote Ostreococcus provides genomic insights into the paradox of plankton speciation

The smallest known eukaryotes, at approximately 1-mum diameter, are Ostreococcus tauri and related species of marine phytoplankton. The genome of Ostreococcus lucimarinus has been completed and compared with that of O. tauri. This comparison reveals surprising differences across orthologous chromosomes in the two species from highly syntenic chromosomes in most cases to chromosomes with almost no similarity. Species divergence in these phytoplankton is occurring through multiple mechanisms acting differently on different chromosomes and likely including acquisition of new genes through horizontal gene transfer. We speculate that this latter process may be involved in altering the cell-surface characteristics…

• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy

  Awards: -AC02-05CH11231, W-7405, 05CH11231, DE-AC52-06NA25396, AC52-06NA25396, AC02-05CH11231, DE-AC02, 7405-Eng-48, DE-AC02-05CH11231, DE-AC02-
• JG
  Joint Genome Institute

  Awards: DE-AC02-05CH11231, AC02-05CH11231
• OO
  Office of Science

  Awards: AC02-05CH11231, -AC02-05CH11231, DE-AC02, DE-AC52-06NA25396
• BA
  Biological and Environmental Research

  Awards: 05CH11231, DE-AC52-06NA25396, DE-AC02-05CH11231, AC02-05CH11231
• LL
  Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  Awards: -7405-Eng-48, DE-AC52-06NA25396, DE-AC02-05CH11231, W-7405-Eng-48
• LB
  Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  Awards: DE-AC02-05CH11231, 05CH11231, AC02-05CH11231
• LA
  Los Alamos National Laboratory

  Awards: AC52-06NA25396, DE-AC52-06NA25396, DE-AC02-05CH11231