Project Leader at MPI for Biology - Department of Algal Development and Evolution
Available online: explore how the maternal-to-zygotic transition unfolds across brown algae with contrasting reproductive strategies. In this study, we profile early development in three species spanning the isogamy–oogamy continuum — Dictyota dichotoma, Undaria pinnatifida, and Scytosiphon promiscuus — using allele-specific expression across reciprocal crosses. Contrary Read More…
Available online: explore how life cycle variation shapes the genetic diversity of the brown seaweed Dictyota across its European range. In this study, we investigate how populations respond to environmental variation by shifting not only the timing of reproduction, but also their mode of reproduction Read More…
Available online: explore how the choice of thermal trait influences species distribution model predictions under climate change. In this study, we examine three fitness-related traits in the brown seaweed Dictyota dichotoma — spore germination rate, maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), and growth rate Read More…
Available online: explore our new platform for high-efficiency, transgene-free CRISPR genome editing in brown algae. In this study, we present a robust method applicable across four ecologically and biotechnologically important brown algal species, including the kelp Undaria pinnatifida. Using a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated ribonucleoprotein (RNP) Read More…
Available online: explore how sex-biased gene evolution sheds light on the early stages of sexual dimorphism in green seaweeds. In this research article, we use the isogamous Ulva to investigate how selective pressures shape the transition from isogamy to anisogamy. We show that in this Read More…
Available online: “Evolutionary genomics of the emergence of brown algae as key components of coastal ecosystems” – This study explores the genomic innovations that shaped the brown algal lineage, from its origin to its ecological diversification. It highlights gene family expansions, metabolic novelty, horizontal Read More…
Available online: explore the evolutionary leap from simple to complex multicellularity through the lens of brown algae. In this Review, we discuss recent breakthroughs in genetic and genomic technologies that are uncovering the molecular mechanisms behind pattern formation, sexual differentiation, and developmental plasticity in brown Read More…
Available online: our new study sheds light on the role of maternal tissue in shaping apical–basal patterning in kelp embryos. By investigating Undaria pinnatifida, we show how attachment to the maternal oogonial cell wall influences embryogenesis in early development. Our findings reveal that when a Read More…
Available online: a critical synthesis of non-indigenous seaweeds across the Northeast Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Macaronesia. In this paper, we provide an in-depth analysis of 140 confirmed non-indigenous species, alongside cryptogenic and data-deficient species. Our dataset of over 19,000 distribution records revealed striking patterns Read More…
Available online: all you want to know about apical-basal patterning in brown algae, how propagules develop their attachment structures and how they highlight three different symmetry breaking mechanisms, complementary to the intrinsic vs extrinsic divide. Click for the full paper in Semin Cell & Developmental Read More…