Volvox africanus

Classification

Eukarya, Chlorophyta, Chlorophyceae, Chlamydomonadales, Volvocaceae

Species

Volvox africanus

NCBI: [1]

Description and Significance

Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why you think it is important

Volvox africanus are photosynthetic, multicellular eukaryotic microbes that live in clusters. A part of a freshwater, green algae genus. Volvox species exist as cell colonies within their own little bubble. They contain up to 6,000 cells within a gelatinous barrier. Large clusters can barely be spotted with the naked eye. First discovered by Anton von Leeuwenhook in the 1700s.

Genome Structure

Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence

This species has a haploid, linear genome, with 141 mb. The genome contains about 101 genes coding for 37,566 proteins.

Cell Structure, Metabolism, and Life Cycle

Interesting features of cell structure; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces

Volvox shape is interesting since one volvox are many colonies within. The best way to describe it is a bunch of cocci unicellular organisms living within a spheritical gel-like substance. Each of cocci cells, called somatic cells, work together to survive. They have flagellum, eyespots, and vacuoles. The somatic cells move their flagellum in tandom for fast, coordinated directional movements.

It reproduces both asexually and sexually.

Ecology and Pathogenesis

Habitat; symbiosis; biogeochemical significance; contributions to environment.
If relevant, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptom

Live in freshwaters sources. Like most algal species, occupy the surface of the water. Typically found in South Africa, other southern african countries, and south Asia.

All discovered volvox species are non-pathogenic.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvox https://utex.org/products/utex-lb-1890 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?id=51714 https://eol.org/pages/901574 https://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=C60a996d47989b5be https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Transmission-electron-microscopy-of-asexual-spheroids-of-Volvox-africanus-GS-West_fig3_358009972 https://www.britannica.com/science/green-algae

Authors

This page is author by Hayden Hull, student of Professor Bradley Tolar at UNC Wilmington.

Pages edited by students of Bradley Tolar at UNC Wilmington