Evolution of irreversible differentiation under stage-dependent cell differentiation.

ABSTRACT: The specialization of cells is a hallmark of complex multicellularity. Cell differentiation enables the emergence of specialized cell types that carry out separate functions previously executed by a multifunctional ancestor cell. One view about the origin of cell differentiation is that it first occurred randomly in genetically identical cells exposed to the same life history environment. Under these conditions, differentiation trajectories producing more offspring could be favored by natural selection; yet, how dynamic variation in differentiation probabilities can affect the evolution of differentiation patterns is unclear. We develop a theoretical model to investigate the effect of dynamic-stage-dependent-cell differentiation on the evolution of optimal differentiation patterns. Concret

SUBMITTER: Gao Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11882815 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature