Collaborative Research: RedToL -- Phylogenetic and Genomic Approaches to Reconstructing the Red Algal (Rhodophyta) Tree of Life

红藻（Rhodophyta）是重要的水生初级生产者，是最古老的真核生物门之一，化石可追溯到12亿年前。红藻质体广泛存在于生命之树中，作为硅藻和形成赤潮的鞭毛藻等微生物光合作用的引擎。红藻也是重要的人类食品的来源，如豆类和寿司卷，并有许多制药和工业应用（例如琼脂糖和卡拉胶）。尽管它们的重要性显而易见，但红藻的生命进化树却鲜为人知。本研究的目的是在红藻的主要群体中广泛取样，并重建它们的系统发育历史。为了实现RedToL的目标，该项目将：1)使用2个核基因、4个质体基因和2个线粒体基因的组合数据集重建471个红藻物种的强大系统发育；2)获得代表红藻分类宽度的一系列16个质体基因组的完整序列；3)通过GenBank和项目特定网站免费提供红藻多基因和基因组数据。RedToL团队由几代杰出的红藻专家组成，他们使用不同的方法（从形态学到系统基因组学），将解决红藻进化的基本问题及其在生命之树中的位置。这项资助将支持来自代表性不足群体的本科生、研究生和博士后的培训，其中包括三名国际研究生。项目结果将发表在科学论文中，并将在两次获得资助的夏季讲习班和两次咨询委员会会议上进行讨论。讲习班将重点培养学生成为下一代红藻分类学家。项目团队还将通过各种讲座和专门的RedToL网站为外展工作做出贡献。

Red algae (Rhodophyta) are important aquatic primary producers that are one of the most anciently diverged eukaryotic phyla with fossil remains dating back to 1.2 billion years ago. The red algal plastid is widespread in the tree of life as an engine of photosynthesis in microorganisms such as diatoms and red-tide forming dinoflagellates. Red algae are also sources of important human foods such as dulse and sushi wrap and have a multitude of pharmaceutical and industrial applications (e.g., agarose and carrageenans). In spite of their obvious importance, the evolutionary tree of life for red algae is poorly known. The aim of this research is to sample broadly across the major groups of red algae and reconstruct their phylogenetic history. To accomplish the aims of RedToL, the project will: 1) reconstruct a robust phylogeny of 471 red algal species using a combined dataset of 2 nuclear, 4 plastid, and 2 mitochondrial genes, 2) obtain complete sequences for a series of 16 plastid genomes that represent the taxonomic breadth of red algae, 3) make freely available red algal multi-gene and genome data via release to GenBank and a project-specific web site. The RedToL team, which consists of prominent red algal specialists from several generations and who use different methods (from morphology to phylogenomics), will address fundamental questions of red algal evolution and their place in the tree of life. This grant will support training of undergraduates, graduates, and post-doctoral fellows from underrepresented groups, including three international graduate students. The project results will be published in scientific papers and they will be discussed in two grant-supported summer workshops and two advisory board meetings. The workshops will focus on training students to become the next-generation of red algal taxonomists. The project team will also contribute to outreach efforts through various lectures and a dedicated RedToL website.