Trade, Borrow, or Steal: Understanding the Acquisition of Metabolism with the Tools of Ecology, Mathematics, and Chemistry
Although biologists often think of organismal metabolism as pre-determined by a species' DNA, in reality many organisms extend their metabolic capabilities through associations with other species. For example, we humans rely on our gut microbiota to make the most out of the food that we eat, and corals rely on symbiotic algae to form the foundation of some of Earth's most biodiverse ecosystems. In this talk, we'll dive into two of the model systems our research group uses to explore this acquired metabolism: (1) the metabolic mutualisms between trees and fungi that support Earth's forested ecosystems, and (2) chloroplast-stealing ciliates that give us insights into how eukaryotes evolved the capacity for photosynthesis. Anchoring our understanding in the (bio)chemistry that underpins these exchanges, we'll use a combination of mathematical, observational, and experimental tools to understand their ecological and evolutionary consequences.
Hosted by Professor Ralph Warmuth
~Coffee/tea will be served prior to the lecture~