Check the detailed description on what questions these projects are helping to answer: ONGOING RESEARCH
PREMETAZOANEVOLUTION. Unravelling the unicellular prehistory of metazoans by functional analyses and single-cell genomics
PI: Iñaki Ruiz-Trillo
Funding: 1,967,535€
Description: Its main goal is to push forward the two model systems developed in the previous ERC Grant to understand the origin of animals. In particular, we aim to infer, by cell biology and functional genomics, the ancestral function of genes key to multicellularity in order to understand how they were co-opted at the onset of Metazoa. In addition, we analyze the level of gene regulation in pre-metazoan lineages. Finally, we use single-cell genomics to understand the ecology, distribution and adaptation of uncultured unicellular lineages that are close relatives to animals.
Funded under: ERC-2012-Co
Project number: 616960
Funded by: European Research Council
Origin of Animals: Unravelling the nature of the last unicellular ancestor through a genomic, proteomic and functional approach
PI: Iñaki Ruiz-Trillo
Funding: 304,920€
Description: The project consists on two parts. First, we will obtain the complete genome sequence of different unicellular species closely related to animals and fungi. We will then perform comparative genomics analyses to understand how animal and fungal lineages evolved. Moreover, we will address the real diversity of some marine metazoan phyla, as well as the diversity of unicellular opisthokonts (that is, the unicellular relatives of fungi and animals), by analyzing environmental surveys from Tara Oceans and Biomarks.
Project number: BFU2017-90114-P
Funded by: MINECO
New Genetic Tools for Marine Protists
PI: Iñaki Ruiz-Trillo
Co-PI: Elena Casacuberta
Funding: 404.099$
Description: It aims to screen marine holozoa for transfectability. In particular, it aims to screen key marine representatives from three different holozoan lineages (filasterea, ichthyosporea and corallochytrea). It is only through the development of new model taxa that significant comparative analyses can be carried to fully understand the diversity and complexity of the eukaryotic cell, which represents the most complex cell among the three domains of life. These taxa are also crucial to understand the origin of metazoans.
Project number: GBMF4973.01
Funded by: Betty and Gordon Moore Foundation
SINGEK. Promoting SINgle cell GEnomics to explore the ecology and evolution of hidden microeuKaryotes
Coordinator: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
Funding: 3.889.393,2 €
Duration: 01/01/2016 – 31/12/2019
The aim of this ITN is therefore to train a new generation of scientists with the highest expertise, in SCG, from the initial stages of cell sorting to genome sequencing and gene annotation, to the full exploitation of the data obtained. Such progress will allow the European research community for the first time to address critical ecological and evolutionary questions. SINGEK drives training through research by both local and network-wide activities, secondments, and workshops, and by establishing an environment that extends far beyond each partner team. This training environment also provides the transferable skills essential for successful career development.
Funded under: H2020-MSCA-ITN-2015
Project number: 675752
Funded by: European Commission
Past projects:
2015-2017 “Origins, diversification and diversity of metazoa, fungi and its unicellular relatives; an evolutionary and ecological approximation“. Principal Investigator: I. Ruiz-Trillo. Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (BFU2014-57779-P); 484.000€
2016-2017 “Screening marine microeukaryotes for their amenability for genetic tool development“. Principal Investigator: I. Ruiz-Trillo. Co-PI: Elena Casacuberta. Betty and Gordon Moore Foundation. (GBMF4973); 130.015$
2012-2014 “El origen del reino animal: un análisis genómico, filogenómico y de biodiversidad de los linajes unicelulares más cercanos a los animales”. Principal Investigator: I. Ruiz-Trillo. Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. (BFU2011-23434); 323.070,00 euros
2009-2011 “La transición unicelular-multicelular: una aproximación genómica”. Principal Investigator: I. Ruiz-Trillo. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. (BFU2008-02839/BMC).
2008-2013 “A comparative genomic analysis into the origin of metazoan multicellularity”. Principal Investigator: I. Ruiz-Trillo. An ERC (European Research Council) Starting Grant to analyze the origin of multicellularity using comparative and functional genomics (ERC-2007-Stg-206883); €1,211,275
2006-2012 “Animals and Fungi: Common origin, but independent approaches to multicellularity”. Principal Investigators: G. Burger, P. W. Holland, B. F. Lang, N. King, A. J. Roger, I. Ruiz-Trillo & M. W. Gray. A NHGRI (National Human Genome Research Institute)-endorsed multi-genome initiative aimed at understanding the origins of both multicellular animals and fungi by obtaining the genome sequence of ten unicellular relatives of animals and fungi.
Check the detailed description on what questions are these projects helping to answer: ONGOING RESEARCH