Bernard Billoud

Cell position is the primary determinant of cell identity in the uniseriate filament of the brown alga Ectocarpus

The paper identifies cell position as the main factor determining cell identity in Ectocarpus filaments, with shape playing a secondary role.

Radical cell identity bifurcation in Saccharina embryos coincides with the expression of newly acquired genes.

The paper studies early embryogenesis in Saccharina latissima, finding radical cell identity changes and gene expression patterns linked to evolutionary novelty.

Analysis of a shark reveals ancient, Wnt dependent, habenular asymmetries in jawed vertebrates

This study identifies ancient Wnt-dependent habenular asymmetries in sharks, suggesting a conserved developmental mechanism across jawed vertebrates.

MUM, a maternal unknown message, inhibits early establishment of the mediolateral axis in the embryo of the kelp Saccharina latissima

This paper investigates the role of a maternal signal (MUM) in establishing growth axes during kelp embryogenesis, showing that MUM inhibits medio-lateral axis formation and requires direct contact with the stalk.

The longitudinal growth of the embryo of the kelp Saccharina depends on actin filaments that control the formation of an alginate corset in the cell wall

The paper shows that actin filaments control alginate distribution in kelp embryos, forming a corset that restricts growth and establishes the apico-basal axis.

Chromosomal assembly of the flat oyster (Ostrea edulis L.) genome as a new genetic ressource for aquaculture

The paper presents a chromosome-level genome assembly for the European flat oyster, providing insights into its genetics and potential for aquaculture improvement.

Tip growth in the brown alga Ectocarpus is controlled by a RHO-GAP-BAR domain protein independently from F-actin organisation

This study identifies a BAR-RhoGAP protein essential for tip growth in the brown alga Ectocarpus, functioning independently of F-actin organization.

Acquisition of cell identity in the brown alga Ectocarpus: which of time, cell shape or position matters most?

The paper investigates how cell identity in Ectocarpus is influenced by age, shape, or position using transcriptomic analysis of mutant and wild-type strains.