Major evolutionary transitions in individuality
Major evolutionary transitions in individuality
复制标题
DOI：
10.1073/pnas.1421402112
复制
发表时间：
2015-05
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
S. West;R. M. Fisher;A. Gardner;E. Kiers
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
S. West;R. M. Fisher;A. Gardner;E. Kiers
地球上生命的进化是由少数几个主要的进化转变驱动的。这些转变的特征是，以前可以独立复制的个体，合作形成一种新的，更复杂的生命形式。例如，古细菌和真细菌形成真核细胞，细胞形成多细胞生物。然而，并非所有合作社团体都在进行重大过渡。我们如何解释为什么生命之树的不同分支上已经发生或尚未发生重大进化转变？我们将主要的转变分为两个步骤：成立一个合作小组，并将该小组转变为一个综合实体。我们展示了这些步骤是如何需要合作、分工、沟通、相互依赖和可以忽略的组内冲突的。我们发现，某些生态条件和群体形成的方式在推动多重转型中发挥了经常性的作用。相比之下，我们发现其他因素在许多关键点上发挥了相对较小的作用，例如组内亲属歧视和积极抑制竞争的机制。更一般地说，通过识别驱动重大转变的少数因素，我们提供了一个更简单，更统一的描述地球上的生命是如何进化的。
The evolution of life on earth has been driven by a small number of major evolutionary transitions. These transitions have been characterized by individuals that could previously replicate independently, cooperating to form a new, more complex life form. For example, archaea and eubacteria formed eukaryotic cells, and cells formed multicellular organisms. However, not all cooperative groups are en route to major transitions. How can we explain why major evolutionary transitions have or haven’t taken place on different branches of the tree of life? We break down major transitions into two steps: the formation of a cooperative group and the transformation of that group into an integrated entity. We show how these steps require cooperation, division of labor, communication, mutual dependence, and negligible within-group conflict. We find that certain ecological conditions and the ways in which groups form have played recurrent roles in driving multiple transitions. In contrast, we find that other factors have played relatively minor roles at many key points, such as within-group kin discrimination and mechanisms to actively repress competition. More generally, by identifying the small number of factors that have driven major transitions, we provide a simpler and more unified description of how life on earth has evolved.