Stabilizing multicellularity through ratcheting
Open accessAbstract
The evolutionary transition to multicellularity probably began with the formation of simple undifferentiated cellular groups. Such groups evolve readily in diverse lineages of extant unicellular taxa, suggesting that there are few genetic barriers to this first key step. This may act as a double-edged sword: labile transitions between unicellular and multicellular states may facilitate the evolution of simple multicellularity, but reversion to a unicellular state may inhibit the evolution of increased complexity. In this paper, we examine how multicellular adaptations can act as evolutionary 'ratchets', limiting the potential for reversion to unicellularity. We consider a nascent multicellular lineage growing in an environment that varies between favouring multicellularity and favouring unicellularity. The first type of ratcheting mutations increase cell-level fitness in a multicellular context but are costly in a single-celled context, reducing the fitness of revertants. The second type of ratcheting mutations directly decrease the probability that a mutation will result in reversion (either as a pleiotropic consequence or via direct modification of switch rates). We show that both types of ratcheting mutations act to stabilize the multicellular state. We also identify synergistic effects between the two types of ratcheting mutations in which the presence of one creates the selective conditions favouring the other. Ratcheting mutations may play a key role in diverse evolutionary transitions in individuality, sustaining selection on the new higher-level organism by constraining evolutionary reversion.This article is part of the themed issue 'The major synthetic evolutionary transitions'.
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Ratcheting processes, where cells acquire traits that commit them to a group lifestyle, stabilize the group and may serve as a universal mechanism that propels multicellular complexity.
“This is enabled by ‘ratcheting’ processes where cells acquire traits that commit them to a group lifestyle. This stabilizes the group and may serve as a universal mechanism that propels multicellular complexity [201,202].”
From Fundamental constraints to the logic of living systems (2024) · cites this paper as [201]
The Discussion (page not provided) says ratcheting traits can stabilize multicellularity against reversion and may facilitate increased complexity. It does not establish a universal mechanism: it describes ratcheting as a possible stepping stone and notes that such traits would be detrimental in life cycles that require switching between unicellular and multicellular forms. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredOne solution to stabilizing MC against cheaters is the evolution of traits that increase cell-level fitness in a group context but come at a cost to free-living fitness.
“One solution to stabilizing MC against cheaters is the evolution of traits that increase cell-level fitness in a group context but come at a cost to free-living fitness.”
From Fundamental constraints to the logic of living systems (2024) · cites this paper as [201]
The Introduction and Discussion describe traits that improve fitness in a multicellular context while reducing it in a unicellular context, thereby stabilizing multicellularity against reversion. The paper distinguishes reversion to unicellularity from conflict among competing cells within a group; it does not establish this mechanism as a solution specifically against cheaters. (LLM, conf=0.85)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Fundamental constraints to the logic of living systems
Solé, R., Kempes, C. P., Corominas-Murtra, B., De Domenico, M., Kolchinsky, A., Lachmann, M., Libby, E., Saavedra, S., Smith, E., & Wolpert, D. (2024) · Interface Focus · doi:10.1098/rsfs.2024.0010 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- Libby, E., Conlin, P. L., Kerr, B., & Ratcliff, W. C.
- Affiliations
- Santa Fe Institute (US)
- University of Washington (US)
- Department of Biology and BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Georgia Institute of Technology (US)
- Corresponding author
- Libby, Eric
- Venue
- Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
- Publisher
- The Royal Society
- Published
- 2016-08-19
- Volume
- 371
- Issue
- 1701
- Pages
- 20150444
- ISSN
- 0962-8436 (ISSN-L)
- 1471-2970
- PMC
- PMC4958938
- OpenAlex
- W2496969863
- Cited by
- 58
- References
- 46
- Citations by year
- 2025: 15 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 4.31
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science Foundation (DBI-0939454, DGE-1256082)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NNX15AR33G)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Philosophy and History of Science
- Keywords
- evolution of multicellularity, evolutionary transitions, individuality, pleiotropy, environmental variability
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Biological, Biological Evolution, Models, Genetic, Selection, Genetic, Eukaryota
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