Synthebiont: Travelling back in time to the origin of photosynthetic eukaryotes

Project title: Synthebiont: Travelling back in time to the origin of photosynthetic eukaryotes

Application Domain: Foundation Technologies

The challenge

The origin of photosynthetic eukaryotes stands as one of the major events in the history of life on Earth. However, many fundamental processes of this evolutionary transition are poorly understood.

Our response

This project will implement cutting edge synthetic biology and systems biology approaches to shed light on the evolutionary origin of photosynthetic eukaryotes.

Impact

This work will provide a better understanding of the processes that led to the evolution of algae and land plants. The project would also lay the foundation for new industrial and agricultural applications.

Team

Briardo Llorente (Project leader – CSIRO Synthetic Biology Future Science Fellow/ Macquarie University), Ian Paulsen (Macquarie University), Cecile Gueidan (CSIRO)