Project description:The experiment was performed with the intention of collecting transcriptomic data from isolated cell types (spore, stalk and vegetative cells) in Dictyostelium lacteum as well as from cysts in Polyshpondlyium pallidum. By combining these data with similar cell-type specific RNA-Seq data from other organisms, and by examining the expression patterns of transcription factor genes, we tried to characterize how gene regulation for cell differentiation evolved in Dictyostelia. Specifically ,we dissociated and collected spore and stalk from the fruiting bodies of D. lacteum at 24 hours of development. We also collected exponentially growing vegetative cells of D. lacteum. For collecting P. pallidum cyst samples, cells were induced to encyst with sorbitol, and samples were collected at 0, 8, 16, and 24 h of incubation. RNA was extracted using the RNeasy kit (QIAGEN), and cDNA libraries were made using the Illumina TruSeq kit. The Illumina sequencing platforms (NextSeq500 for D. lacteum samples, and Hi-seq 2000 for P. pallidum samples) were used for sequencing.