Kin discrimination and possible cryptic species in the social amoeba Polysphondylium violaceum.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The genetic diversity of many protists is unknown. The differences that result from this diversity can be important in interactions among individuals. The social amoeba Polysphondylium violaceum, which is a member of the Dictyostelia, has a social stage where individual amoebae aggregate together to form a multicellular fruiting body with dead stalk cells and live spores. Individuals can either cooperate with amoebae from the same clone, or sort to form clonal fruiting bodies. In this study we look at genetic diversity in P. violaceum and at how this diversity impacts social behavior.

Results

The phylogeny of the ribosomal DNA sequence (17S to 5.8S region) shows that P. violaceum is made up of at least two groups. Mating compatibility is more common between clones

SUBMITTER: Kalla SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3041686 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature