Nicole King

Nicole King is a Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development at the University of California, Berkeley, and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator. Her research focuses on understanding the evolutionary origins of animals through the study of choanoflagellates, the closest living relatives of animals. Her work integrates genomic, developmental, and ecological approaches to unravel how unicellular ancestors transitioned to multicellular organisms.

Key research areas include: molecular mechanisms of cell differentiation in choanoflagellates, bacterial regulation of developmental processes, and the genetic basis of multicellularity. King's lab has pioneered studies on species like Salpingoeca rosetta, demonstrating how bacterial signaling molecules trigger colony formation and cell-type specialization.

• Education: Not explicitly listed in provided texts
• Affiliations: HHMI Investigator, Berkeley Department of Molecular & Cell Biology

Her research highlights the critical role of environmental interactions—particularly with bacteria—in driving evolutionary transitions. Recent findings include stress-responsive signaling pathways in choanoflagellates and the discovery of sulfonolipid molecules that modulate developmental switches. King's lab also develops genomic tools for studying protists, advancing understanding of ancestral animal genes.

Scientific contributions include uncovering the evolutionary origins of cadherins, collagens, and immune signaling pathways. She was awarded the prestigious HHMI Investigatorship for her transformative work bridging evolutionary biology and cell biology.

Lab collaborations span microbiology, chemistry, and bioinformatics, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches. Ongoing projects explore how environmental fluctuations (e.g., salinity) influence multicellular behavior and the role of horizontal gene transfer in early eukaryotic evolution.