Evolutionary Transitions in Individuality: Multicellularity and Sex

Michod, Richard E. Evolutionary transitions in individuality: multicellularity and sex . Vol. 2348. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2011.
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This chapter combines formal models of how the fitness of a collective can become decoupled from the fitness with more empirical work on the volvocine algae. It uses the Volvox clade as a model system. It describes the evolution of altruism in the volvocine green algae. This chapter suggests that altruism may evolve from genes involved in life-history trade-offs. It shows the several cooperation, conflict, and conflict mediation cycles in the volvocine green algae. This cycle of cooperation, conflict, and conflict mediation drives evolutionary transitions in individuality.

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