Evolution of sexual reproduction and phylogeny of the ancient and enigmatic red algae

红藻（Rhodophyta）是一个古老的谱系，其中一些成员在化石记录中被报道可以追溯到12亿年前。这一组具有相当大的经济重要性，因为它们含有化合物（琼脂，角叉菜胶等）。广泛用作酸奶、冰淇淋和牙膏等产品的增稠剂。像紫菜（Porphyra）。海苔（Nori）和棕榈（Palmaria）。Dulse）是重要的食物来源，是全球数十亿美元的水产养殖业。此外，红藻通过叶绿体的次生内共生，是地球上光合生命进化的关键群体。这仅仅意味着目前有光合作用能力的几个谱系通过吞噬和保持其他光合生物在它们内部而获得了这种能力。例如，红藻是异鞭毛藻门（Heterokontophyta）中叶绿体的共同祖先（例如大西洋和太平洋海岸常见的大型海带）。这是光合作用生命进化的关键事件。尽管这个群体的重要性显而易见，但对被认为是“Bangiophyte”的物种知之甚少。更令人着迷的是，尽管化石Bangiomorpha展示了化石记录中第一个有性生殖的例子（1.2 BYA），但这些群体中的许多人似乎并没有进行有性生殖或完全失去了这种能力。这项提案的重点是检查这些独特的生物体，并使用分子技术来辨别性

The red algae (Rhodophyta) are an ancient lineage with some members being reported in the fossil record as far back as 1.2 billion years. This group is of considerable economic importance since they contain compounds (agar, carrageenan, etc.) that are used extensively as thickeners in products such as yogurt, ice cream and toothpaste. Genera such as Porphyra (aka. Nori, laverbread) and Palmaria (aka. Dulse) are important food sources and are global billion dollar aquaculture industries. In addition, the red algae are a critical group in the evolution of photosynthetic life on earth through secondary endosymbiosis of chloroplasts. This simply means that several lineages currently capable of photosynthesis have gained that ability by engulfing and keeping other photosynthetic organisms inside them. For example, red algae are the common ancestors to the chloroplasts contained in the division, Heterokontophyta (e.g. large kelps common to Atlantic and Pacific coasts). This was a pivotal event in the evolution of photosynthetic life. Despite the obvious importance of this group, very little is known about what are considered "Bangiophyte" species. Even more fascinating is that even though the fossil, Bangiomorpha, exhibits the first example of sexual reproduction in the fossil record (1.2 BYA), many of these groups do not appear to undergo sexual reproduction or have lost the ability entirely. This proposal focuses on examining these unique organisms and uses molecular techniques to discern if sexual