To the 80^th anniversary of Professor Thomas Cavalier-Smith (1942–2021)

Abstract

The present essay is dedicated to one of the most famous evolutionary biologists of recent decades, Thomas Cavalier-Smith, one of the founders of eukaryotic megasystematics. His theoretical work was devoted to various aspects of the origin of the cell and the evolution of the genome, and the main thing was the improvement of eukaryotic megasystematics. Cavalier-Smith’s thinking style was characterized by a detailed elaboration of data from various disciplines, including cell biology, biochemistry, molecular evolution, protistology, microbiology, and paleontology. He had an encyclopedic outlook, a lively mind and was alien to dogmatism. His peculiar cognitive method was to put forward and then test extravagant evolutionary hypotheses. The theoretical heritage of Cavalier-Smith has influenced several generations of researchers and the landscape of modern theoretical biology. The life of Cavalier-Smith is a perfect example of endless dedication and a sense of professional duty.

Keywords

Cavalier-Smith’s systems / eukaryogenesis / eukaryotic genome evolution / higher taxa of eukaryotes / megasystematics / origin of eukaryotes / protistology / the concept of Archezoa / the concept of introns late / serial endosymbioses theory

References

[1] Cavalier-Smith T. Organelle development in Chlamydomonas reinhardii. PhD thesis. Cambridge, 1967.

[2] Cavalier-Smith T. Electron microscopic evidence for chloroplast fusion in zygotes of Chamydomonas reinchardii. Nature. 1970. V. 228. P. 333–335.

[3] Smirnov A. V., Zlatogursky V. V., Karpov S. A. et al. In Memoriam: Professor Thomas Cavalier-Smith, FRS, FRSC (1942 – 2021). Protistology. 2021. 15(1): 46–48.

[4] Smirnov A. V., Zlatogursky V. V., Karpov S. A. et al. In Memoriam: Professor Thomas Cavalier-Smith, FRS, FRSC (1942–2021). Protistology. 2021. 15(1): 46–48.

[5] Takhtadjan A. L. Four kingdoms of the organic world. Priroda. 1973. N 2. P. 22–32 (in Russ.).

[6] Тахтаджян А.Л. (Takhtadjan) Четыре царства органического мира // Природа. 1973. № 2. С. 22–32.

[7] Cavalier-Smith T. The origin of nuclei and eukaryotic cells. Nature. 1975. V. 256. P. 463–468.

[8] Cavalier-Smith T. Eukaryote kingdoms: seven or nine? Bio Systems. 1981. V. 14. P. 461–484.

[9] Cavalier-Smith T. The origin and early evolution of the eukaryotic cell. In: Carlile M. J., Collins J., Moseley B. E. B. (eds). Molecular and cellular aspects of microbial evolution. Cambridge University Press, 1981, Cambridge, pp. 33–84.

[10] Starobogatov Ya.I. The position of flagellated protists in the system of lower eukaryotes. Cytology. 1995. V. 37. P. 1030–1035.

[11] Starobogatov Ya. I. The position of flagellated protists in the system of lower eukaryotes. Cytology. 1995. V. 37. P. 1030–1035.

[12] Cavalier-Smith T. Deep phylogeny, ancestral groups and the four ages of life. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. 2010. V. 365. P. 111–132. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2009.0161

[13] Cavalier-Smith T., Chao E. Multidomain ribosomal protein trees and the planctobacterial origin of neomura (eukaryotes, archaebacteria). Protoplasma. 2020. V. 257 (3). P. 621–753. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-019-01442-7

[14] Jeffrey C. Thallophytes and kingdoms – a critique. Kew. Bull. 1971. V. 25. P. 291–299.

[15] Edwards P. A classification of plants into higher taxa based on cytological and biochemical criteria. Taxon. 1976. V. 25. P. 529–542.

[16] Taylor F. G. R. Problems in the development of an explicit hypothetical phylogeny of the lower eukaryotes. BioSystems. 1978. Vol. 10. P. 67–89.

[17] Cavalier-Smith T. The evolutionary origin and phylogeny of microtubules spindles and eukaryotic flagella. BioSystems. 1978. V. 1. P. 93–114.

[18] Demoulin V. The origin of Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes. The case for a red algal ancestry. Bot. Rev. 1974. V. 40. P. 315–345.

[19] Cavalier-Smith T. Eukaryote kingdoms: seven or nine? Bio Systems. 1981. V. 14. P. 461–484.

[20] Vasiliev A. E. On the primitive features of fungal cell organization and the origin of eukaryotes. Botanicheskiy zhurnal. 1985. V. 70 (9). P. 1145–1156 (in Russ.).

[21] Васильев А. Е. (Vasiliev) О примитивных чертах организации грибной клетки и происхождении эвкариотов // Бот. журн. 1985. Т. 70. № 9. С. 1145–1156.

[22] Cavalier-Smith T. A 6-kingdom classification and a unified phylogeny. In: H. E. A. Schenk, W. Schwemmler (eds). Endocytobi-ology II. De Gruyter, Berlin, 1983, pp. 1027–1034.

[23] Cavalier-Smith T. A 6-kingdom classification and a unified phylogeny. In: H.E.A. Schenk, W. Schwemmler (eds). Endocytobi-ology II. De Gruyter, Berlin, 1983, pp. 1027–1034.

[24] Cavalier-Smith T. Kingdom Protozoa and its 18 phyla. Microbiol. Rev. 1993. V. 57. P. 953–994. https://doi.org/10.1128/mr.57.4.953-994.199

[25] Doolittle W.F. Genes in pieces: Were they ever together? Nature. 1978. V. 272. P. 581–582. https://doi.org/10.1038/272581a0.

[26] Doolittle W. F. Genes in pieces: Were they ever together? Nature. 1978. V. 272. P. 581–582. https://doi.org/10.1038/272581a0.

[27] Darnell J.E.J. Implications of RNA-RNA splicing in evolution of eukaryotic cells. Science. 1978. V. 202. P. 1257–1260.

[28] Darnell J. E. J. Implications of RNA-RNA splicing in evolution of eukaryotic cells. Science. 1978. V. 202. P. 1257–1260.

[29] Gilbert W. The exon theory of genes. Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol. 1987. V. 52. P. 901–905.

[30] Cavalier-Smith T. Intron phylogeny: a new hypothesis. Trends Genet. 1991. V. 7. P. 145–148.

[31] Huff J., Zilberman D., Roy S. Mechanism for DNA transposons to generate introns on genomic scales. Nature. 2016. V. 538. P. 533–536. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature20110

[32] Woese C. R., Kandler O., Wheelis M. L. Towards a natural system of organisms: proposal for the domains Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya. PNAS. 1990. V. 87(12). P. 4576–4579. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.87.12.4576

[33] Woese C. R., Kandler O., Wheelis M. L. Towards a natural system of organisms: proposal for the domains Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya. PNAS. 1990. V. 87 (12). P. 4576–4579. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.87.12.4576

[34] Cavalier-Smith T. Bacteria and eukaryotes. Nature. 1992. V. 356. P. 570. https://doi.org/10.1038/356570a0

[35] Cavalier-Smith T. Evolution of the eukaryotic genome. In: Broda P., Oliver S. G., Sims P. (eds). The eukaryo tic genome. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993а, 333–385.

[36] Cavalier-Smith T. A revised six-kingdom system of life. Biol. Rev. 1998. V. 73. P. 203–266.

[37] Chadefaud M. Les cellules nageuses des Algues dans l’embranchement des Chromophycées. Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l’Académie des Sciences. 1950. V. 231. P. 788–790.

[38] Cavalier-Smith T. Megaphylogeny, cell body plans, adaptive zones: causes and timing of eukaryote basal radiations. J. Eukaryot. Microbiol. 2009. V. 56 (1). P. 26–33. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1550-7408.2008.00373.x

[39] Cavalier-Smith T. Megaphylogeny, cell body plans, adaptive zones: causes and timing of eukaryote basal radiations. J. Eukaryot. Microbiol. 2009. V. 56 (1). P. 26–33. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1550–7408.2008.00373.x

[40] Cavalier-Smith T. Kingdoms Protozoa and Chromista and the eozoan root of the eukaryotic tree. Biol. Lett. 2010. V. 6 (3). P. 342–345. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2009.0948

[41] Cavalier-Smith T., Chao E.E., Lewis R. Multiple origins of Heliozoa from flagellate ancestors: New cryptist subphylum Corbihelia, superclass Corbistoma, and monophyly of Haptista, Cryptista, Hacrobia and Chromista. Molec. Phylog. Evol. 2015. 93: 331–362. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2015.07.004

[42] Cavalier-Smith T., Chao E. E., Lewis R. Multiple origins of Heliozoa from flagellate ancestors: New cryptist subphylum Corbihelia, superclass Corbistoma, and monophyly of Haptista, Cryptista, Hacrobia and Chromista. Molec. Phylog. Evol. 2015. 93: 331–362. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2015.07.004

[43] Roger A. J. Thomas Cavalier-Smith (1942–2021). Current Biology. 2021. V. 31. N 16. P. R977–R981. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2021.07.009

[44] Roger A. J. Thomas Cavalier-Smith (1942–2021). Current Biology. 2021. V. 31. N16. P. R977–R981. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2021.07.009

[45] Zmitrovich I. V., Perelygin V. V., Zharikov M. V. Nomenclature and rank correlation of higher taxa of eukaryo tes: monograph. INFRA-M, Moscow, 2022. 183 p. (Folia Cryptogamica Petropolitana N 8).

[46] Змитрович И. В., Перелыгин В. В., Жариков М. В. Номенклатура и ранговая корреляция высших таксонов эукариот: монография. Москва: ИНФРА-М, 2022. 183 с. (Folia Cryptogamica Petropolitana. № 8).