The art and design of genetic screens: filamentous fungi.
In the 1940s, screens for metabolic mutants of the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa established the fundamental, one-to-one relationship between a gene and a specific protein, and also established fungi as important genetic organisms. Today, a wide range of filamentous species, which represents a billion years of evolutionary divergence, is used for experimental studies. The developmental complexity of these fungi sets them apart from unicellular yeasts, and allows the development of new screens that enable us to address biological questions that are relevant to all eukaryotes.
Casselton
Lorna
L
Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RB, UK. lorna.casselton@plants.ox.ac.uk
Zolan
Miriam
M
D001203:Ascomycota / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D001487:Basidiomycota / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods*; D008938:Mitosis; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009154:Mutation; D009492:Neurospora crassa / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development