Abstract
Evolutionary transitions in the units of selection require the promotion of cooperation and the regulation of conflict among the lower level units. For multicellular organisms to emerge as a new unit of selection, the selfish tendencies of their component cells had to be controlled. Theoretical results indicate organisms may regulate this internal conflict and competition in several ways: by reducing the somatic mutation rate, by sequestering cells in a germ line and by directly reducing the benefits to cells of defecting.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 813-822 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |
Volume | 263 |
Issue number | 1372 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 1996 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Immunology and Microbiology(all)
- Environmental Science(all)
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)