Seminar by Dr. Siobhan Braybrook (UCLA)

Associate Professor of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, UCLA

Evolution and Development of Branching Patterns in Brown Algae

Fibonacci-based patterns are found in many different natural systems, including the morphogenetic branching in brown algae, a multicellular lineage of eukaryotes which evolved independently of all other multicellular lineages. In this talk, I will present our lab's work investigating the origin, prevalence, development, and diversity of Fibonacci-based branching in brown algae. We will explore how the branching trait varies within and between species, how it presents within a phylogenetic context, when it appears in the fossil record, and the developmental patterning mechanisms that may underlie its' formation (including wet-lab and modelling approaches).

The Braybrook (Morpho-Mech) Lab is generally interested in development and morphology in plants & brown algae (cell-walled multicellular eukaryotes); current projects in the lab also include algal-microbial dynamics, cell wall mechanics & interaction with environment pollutants, and developing molecular methods for gene-function exploration. The lab also works in STEM education research examining student motivation and belonging as products of course design and student agency.