Green algal cultures were grown up in appropriate medium at 18°C and a 12:12 LD photoperiod with a photon flux of 180-200 %u03BCmol s-1 m-2. RNA was isolated during log phase growth in a variety of conditions to maximize the diversity of transcripts: at intervals at 7 am, 12 pm, 4 pm and 9 pm; after sitting in a dark enclosure for 24 hours; and after being exposed to 20 min of -20°C. This evolutionary study was performed to collect genomic scale data on the charophyte lineages most closely related to land plants. Research questions derived from these data include phylogenomic analyses and uncovering the origin of plant molecular processes.