Giant Seaweed Holds Key to Unique Self-Organization
Many organisms reproduce and grow through the process of binary fission, but a number of large seaweeds, such as Caulerpa, have a unique method of growth that sets them apart from the rest.
These leafy green algae lack the microscopic dividing structures typically associated with growth, making them some of the largest single-cell systems known. Despite this, they are able to grow to meters in size and have become successful invaders in many new territories.
To understand how this organism regrows and organizes itself into leaf-like structures, a team of researchers from the California Institute of Technology conducted a study. They found that even without membranes and walls to separate the plant’s numerous nuclei, this intriguing organism still manages to self-organize and develop into organ-like structures resembling leaves, stems, and roots.
The researchers also discovered that the algae seemed to predict changes in the light cycle and changed its chlorophyll activity before the new light conditions even arrived, hinting that it has a sort of internal circadian clock which it uses to grow and develop.
The findings, published in Nature Communications, suggest that the giant seaweed has a unique way of self-organizing and determining when and where to grow, without the need for traditional cells. This research sheds light on the fascinating growth process of Caulerpa and provides insights into the mechanisms of self-organization in organisms.