This article begins with a general introduction to galaxy formation and evolution and ends with a discussion of the long-term spectroscopic study: The Role of Close Companions in the Formation of Brightest Cluster Galaxies and Intracluster Light. To illustrate the power, goals and aims of this larger project, preliminary data for one of the galaxy clusters in our sample is presented, Abell 407, which appears to be caught in the act of forming its Brightest Cluster Galaxy (BCG).
