The evolutionary origin of somatic cells under the dirty work hypothesis.

ABSTRACT: Reproductive division of labor is a hallmark of multicellular organisms. However, the evolutionary pressures that give rise to delineated germ and somatic cells remain unclear. Here we propose a hypothesis that the mutagenic consequences associated with performing metabolic work favor such differentiation. We present evidence in support of this hypothesis gathered using a computational form of experimental evolution. Our digital organisms begin each experiment as undifferentiated multicellular individuals, and can evolve computational functions that improve their rate of reproduction. When such functions are associated with moderate mutagenic effects, we observe the evolution of reproductive division of labor within our multicellular organisms. Specifically, a fraction of the cells remove

SUBMITTER: Goldsby HJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4019463 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature