"Unraveling Plant Evolution: Algae's Insights Span 600 Million Years"

Researchers have studied the single-celled alga Mesotaenium endlicherianum to gain insights into the molecular networks and genetic mechanisms involved in plant terrestrialization. By subjecting the alga to different light intensities and temperatures, the researchers identified shared patterns of gene expression and discovered "hub genes" that coordinate responses to environmental signals. These genetic mechanisms were found to be shared across more than 600 million years of plant and algal evolution, providing valuable insights into the long-term evolutionary patterns of plants.