Throughout the history of life on Earth, multicellular life evolved from single cells numerous times, but explaining how this happened is one of the major evolutionary puzzles of our time. However, ...

This is a preview. Log in through your library . Abstract Cytological and morphological details of the life-cycle of the commonly-encountered, 16-celled Gonium pectorale var. pectorale are described.

A genomic study of Gonium pectorale (shown here) and closely related algae reveals that co-option of genes for cell cycle regulation helped unicellular organisms evolve toward multicellularity.

The genome sequencing of the algae, Gonium pectorale, provides valuable clues into how and why single cells live together in groups -- one of the earliest steps on the path to a multicellular ...