Researchers from the Enterprise Institute for Renewable Fuels at the Danforth Plant Science Center have revealed the genetic origin of multicellular green alga, Volvox carteri.

The research was led by James Umen, Ph.D, Associate Member, Enterprise Institute for Renewable Fuels at the Danforth Plant Science Center. Here they have determined the gene for sex in the algae and found out that Volvox carteri algae has acquired new functions as compared to Chlamydomonas reinhardtii algae which is its close relative. Also, it was found that a female sexes in Volvox evolved relatively recently from mating types in an ancestor that was similar to Chlamydomonas.

The study of this multi-cellular green alga, Volvox carteri has led the scientists to understand the genetic basis of the male and female sexes, thereby explaining as to how the alga evolved from a primitive mating system in a one-celled relative.

It has been found out that a simple genetic engineering trick causes female Volvox carteri alga to create sperm and males to make eggs. The process also shows that the development of males and females was much more forthright than once believed.

A study like this largely proposes a potential design for how sexes in multi-cellular organisms such as animals and plants have come into existence. Also, beside the design part it also provides the possible genetic basis of the male and female sexes.

All these findings have been printed in the most recent edition of the science journal PLOS Biology.