UNL researchers crack algae genomic code

In Nebraska, plant life first emerged on land about 550 million years ago, and an international research team co-led by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has cracked the genomic code of its humble beginnings, which made possible all other terrestrial life on Earth, including humans.

The team — about 50 scientists in eight countries – has generated the first genomic sequence of four strains of Zygnema algae, the closest living relatives of land plants. Their findings shed light on the ability of plants to adjust to the environment and provide a rich basis for future research. The study was published May 1 in the journal Nature Genetics.