Int. J. Dev. Biol. 63: 317 - 320 (2019)

https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.190275re

Vol 63, Issue 8-9-10

Special Issue: The Dictyostelium model system

The Dictyostelium discoideum model system

Open Access | Published: 11 December 2019

Ricardo Escalante¹ and Elena Cardenal-Muñoz²

¹Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas “Alberto Sols” (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain and ²Département de Biochimie, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Genève, Sciences II, Genève, Switzerland

Abstract

When we set out to organize this Special Issue, we faced the difficult task of gathering together a large variety of topics with the unique commonality of having been studied in a single model organism, Dictyostelium discoideum. This apparent setback turned into a wonderful opportunity to learn about an organism as a whole, which provides a more complete understanding of life processes, their natural meaning and their changes during evolution. From studies dedicated almost exclusively to cell motility, differentiation and patterning, the versatility of D. discoideum has allowed in recent years the expansion of our knowledge to other areas, including cell biology and many others related to human diseases. The present collection of papers can be considered as a journey throughout the mechanisms of life, where D. discoideum acts as a very special tourist guide.

Keywords

Dictyostelium discoideum, Model