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Dictyostelids pp 219–242Cite as

The Non-dictyostelid Sorocarpic Amoebae

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Abstract

The social life cycle made famous through research on the dictyostelids is not an evolutionary innovation that is solely unique to the dictyostelids. Since 1873, other protistans with similar life styles have been recognized. Historically, they have been allied under various taxonomic classifications over the last 140 years; however, the recent influx of molecular data has proven that analogous methods through a social means to form a spore dispersal structure have independently arose in 7 different lineages of eukaryotic organisms. Here we provide a brief introduction to each of the amoeboid organisms that display this behavior focusing on their life histories and the history of the research on each taxon. These organisms represent one of the most striking examples of ultimate convergent evolution across the greatest possible evolutionary distances in eukaryotic evolution. Research into the molecular and developmental biology, that underlies the evolution of a social life cycle and formation of a fruiting body is still in its infancy when compared to the dictyostelids. However, the genomes from several non-dictyostelid sorocarpic amoebae are soon becoming available, and a new age of research into these fascinating organisms is beginning to gain traction.

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Acknowledgments

During part of the time of this work, MWB was supported as postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Andrew J. Roger at Dalhousie University and was supported as such by the Tula Foundation. We extend much appreciation to Alexander Tice for images of Sorodiplophrys.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi, MS, 39762, USA

    Matthew W. Brown

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA

    Jeffrey D. Silberman

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  1. Matthew W. Brown
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Correspondence to Matthew W. Brown .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Systematic Biology, University of Uppsala, Norbyvägen 18D, Uppsala, 75236, Sweden

    Maria Romeralo

  2. , Systematic Biology, University of Uppsala, Norbyvägen 18D, Uppsala, 75236, Sweden

    Sandra Baldauf

  3. Alberto Sols CSIC-UAM, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas, Arturo Duperier 4, Madrd, 28029, Spain

    Ricardo Escalante

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Brown, M.W., Silberman, J.D. (2013). The Non-dictyostelid Sorocarpic Amoebae. In: Romeralo, M., Baldauf, S., Escalante, R. (eds) Dictyostelids. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38487-5_12

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