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Algal Systematics and Biodiversity
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Contact information:Jaanika Blomster Department of Environmental Sciences P.O. Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1) FI-00014 University of Helsinki Finland jaanika.blomster(at)helsinki.fi Tel: +358-(0)9-19157822 |
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Green Algal and Land Plant Evolution
One of the main topics of our research focuses on the green algal and land plant evolution. The origin and diversification of land plants represent a period of unparalleled innovation in the history of plant life. Most studies nowadays agree that green plants (including the extant land plants and green algae) are a monophyletic group. However, the basal branching order of land plants is unstable. Phylogenetic relationships are best understood within the extant land plants and most unresolved and controversial amongst primitive land plants and green algae. In this project we are focusing on the green algal members of the land plant lineage. Improved characterisation of green algae has an impact on the branching order of land plants. To study green algal evolution we are using molecular sequence data of several genes. The large scale sequence analyses are done using programs like PAUP as well as POY and NONA, hosted by the CSC (the Finnish IT center for science).
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