Objective
The origin of the eukaryotic cell represents an enigmatic yet dramatically incomplete evolutionary puzzle. The few pieces of this puzzle that we have managed to identify thus far indicate that the eukaryotic cell most probably emerged via a fusion of an archaeal and an alphaproteobacterial cell. Yet, beyond this, scientific debate is mainly engulfed by speculation, which, to a large extent, is fed by our poor understanding of the identity of these bacterial and archaeal fusion partners. In the current research proposal, I aim to identify contemporary relatives of the bacterial and archaeal lineages that once founded the eukaryotic cell using novel single-cell genomics and phylogenomics approaches. Till this end, environmental samples that are enriched for the target microbial lineages will be collected and analyzed at the single cell level. A novel microdroplet-based single-cell analysis platform will be implemented that allows for the analysis of millions of individual cells. After target cells have been identified, their genomic material will be amplified, and subjected to next-generation sequencing analysis. Subsequent state-of-the-art phylogenomic analyses will elucidate the taxonomic affiliation of these target cells in relation to other archaeal and bacterial lineages, as well as to eukaryotes. The proposed strategy will identify hundreds of novel prokaryotic lineages, some of which representing close contemporary relatives of the ‘parental’ lineages that founded the eukaryotic cell. The genomic exploration of these lineages will add the taxonomic resolution that is needed to start solving the evolutionary puzzle of the emergence of the eukaryotic cell.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
ERC-2012-StG_20111109
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Host institution
751 05 Uppsala
Sweden
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.