Epigenetics decouples mutational from environmental robustness. Did it also facilitate multicellularity?

ABSTRACT: The evolution of ever increasing complex life forms has required innovations at the molecular level in order to overcome existing barriers. For example, evolving processes for cell differentiation, such as epigenetic mechanisms, facilitated the transition to multicellularity. At the same time, studies using gene regulatory network models, and corroborated in single-celled model organisms, have shown that mutational robustness and environmental robustness are correlated. Such correlation may constitute a barrier to the evolution of multicellularity since cell differentiation requires sensitivity to cues in the internal environment during development. To investigate how this barrier might be overcome, we used a gene regulatory network model which includes epigenetic control based on the mech

SUBMITTER: Gombar S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3945085 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature