Development of the Genetic Map of Volvox

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Volvox carteri is a potentially powerful model for analyzing the genetic control of cellular differentiation and morphogenesis. Each individual contains two entirely different cell types that exhibit a complete division of labor between vegetative and reproductive functions, and that are arranged in a highly regular pattern within a simple spheroid. Because the organism is haploid and reproduces rapidly in the asexual cycle, individuals possessing mutations affecting key developmental processes are readily isolated, and grown into large, genetically homogeneous populations. But because the organism can be switched from asexual to sexual reproduction at will, formal genetic analysis is also possible. Our objective is to make the genetic linkage map of Volvox more useful for future developmental- and molecular-genetic studies, by extending it to include additional drug-resistance markers, restriction fragment length polymorphisms and rearrangement breakpoints. And, as a major step toward elucidating the genetic programs that regulate differentiation of reproductive cells, we will attempt to identify and map all of the loci at which mutations either result in a breakdown of the division of labor between somatic and reproductive cells, or result in constitutive sexual reproduction. Volvox bridges the gap between single-celled chlamydomonas, and multicellular higher plants. Therefore, basic studies of Volvox are important in evolutionary and developmental studies.***//