The Genetics of Fitness Reorganization during the Transition to Multicellularity: The Volvocine regA-like Family as a Model

Zachariah I. Grochau-Wright, Aurora M. Nedelcu, Richard E. Michod

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

The evolutionary transition from single-celled to multicellular individuality requires organismal fitness to shift from the cell level to a cell group. This reorganization of fitness occurs by re-allocating the two components of fitness, survival and reproduction, between two specialized cell types in the multicellular group: soma and germ, respectively. How does the genetic basis for such fitness reorganization evolve? One possible mechanism is the co-option of life history genes present in the unicellular ancestors of a multicellular lineage. For instance, single-celled organisms must regulate their investment in survival and reproduction in response to environmental changes, particularly decreasing reproduction to ensure survival under stress. Such stress response life history genes can provide the genetic basis for the evolution of cellular differentiation in multicellular lineages. The regA-like gene family in the volvocine green algal lineage provides an excellent model system to study how this co-option can occur. We discuss the origin and evolution of the volvocine regA-like gene family, including regA—the gene that controls somatic cell development in the model organism Volvox carteri. We hypothesize that the co-option of life history trade-off genes is a general mechanism involved in the transition to multicellular individuality, making volvocine algae and the regA-like family a useful template for similar investigations in other lineages.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number941
JournalGenes
Volume14
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2023
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Chlamydomonas
  • SAND domain
  • Volvox
  • cellular differentiation
  • gene co-option
  • individuality
  • life history
  • multicellularity
  • regA
  • volvocine algae

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics
  • Genetics(clinical)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The Genetics of Fitness Reorganization during the Transition to Multicellularity: The Volvocine regA-like Family as a Model'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this