MARK A. FARMER
Professor and Head
Ph.D., 1988
Rutgers University
RESEARCH
The origin and evolution of eukaryotic cells is one of the most exciting yet poorly understood phenomena in all of cell biology. Using techniques such as electron microscopy and laser scanning confocal microscopy my research focuses on the structural similarities between protists (protozoa, algae, zoosporic fungi) and how these relate to the evolution of these organisms. The endosymbiotic theory suggests that chloroplasts and mitochondria are derived from captured prokaryotic cells. Presently my research is centered on identifying and understanding those protists that may be similar to the ancestors of all present-day eukaryotes. One result of this work has been to challenge long held beliefs about the relationships between various parasitic protozoa (trypanosomes, trichomonads, Giardia etc.) and free living protists. These findings will help not only in our understanding of parasitic organisms but more importantly they will help us to understand some of the basic cellular processes of eukaryotic cells.
| CONTACT INFORMATION |
| (706) 542-3383, farmer@cb.uga.edu |
| SEE ALSO |
| The Euglenoid Project "Putting Organisms in Their Places" Biomedical & Health Sciences Institute |
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| Winger |
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| Sarah Winger | |
Grad Student | |
sjardeleza@plantbio.uga.edu |
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REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS
Adl*, M.S., Simpson*, A.G.B., Farmer*, M.A., Andersen, R.A., Anderson, O.R., Barta, J.R., Bowser, S.S., Brugerolle, G., Fensome, R.A., Fredericq, S., James, T.Y., Karpov, S., Kugrens, P., Krug, J., Lane, C.E., Lewis, L.A., Lodge, J., Lynn, D.H., Mann, D.G., McCourt, R.M., Mendoza, L., Moestrup, S., Mozley-Standridge, S.E., Nerad, T.A., Shearer, C.A., Smirnov, A.V., Spiegel, F.W., and Taylor, F. J. R. 2005. "The new higher level classification of eukaryotes with emphasis on the taxonomy of protists." J Euk Microbiology 52:399-451. * = co-first authors. View this article in full text (.pdf format)Brosnan, S., Brown, P.J.P., Farmer, M.A., and Triemer, R.E. 2005. Morphological separation of the euglenoid genera Trachelomonas and Strombomonas (Euglenophyta) based on lorica development and posterior strip reduction. Journal of Phycology 41:590-605. View this article in full text (.pdf format)
Brown, P. J. P., Zakrys, B., and Farmer, M. A. 2003. Plastid Morphology, Ultrastructure, and Development in Colacium and the loricate euglenophytes (Euglenophyceae). Journal of Phycology 39:115-121. View this article in full text (.pdf format)
Leander, B.S., R.P. Witek, and M.A. Farmer. 2001. "Trends in the evolution of the euglenid pellicle." Evolution. 55:2215-2235. View this article in full text (.pdf format)
Bernhard, J.M, K. Buck, M.A. Farmer, and S.S. Bowser. 2000. "The Santa Barbara Basin is a symbiosis oasis." Nature. 403:77-80. View this article in full text (.pdf format)