Conflict and Coop.

The major evolutionary transitions

the genome → Euk. Cells → Multicellular → multispecies symbiosis → sociality → eusociality → human untrasociality

What do these evolutionary transitions result in

the emergence of new levels of individuality

the two routes of emergence of the new level of individuality that create a division of labour

Uniformity & Diversity

What is the uniformity (egalitarian) route

differentiation as in multicellularity and eusociality (known as the come together route)

what is the diversity (fraternal route)

symbiosis as in the genome, the euk. cell and human ultrasociality (known as the stay together route)

What are egalitarian transitions

the genome, euk. cells, multispecies symbiosis, human ultrasociality

what are fraternal transitions

multicellular organisms, eusociality and human ultrasociality

genome

a cooperation between specific genes to incorporate themselves into subsections (chromosomes) that make up the entire genome

eukaryotic cell

the cooperation (symbiosis) between an ancestral prokaryotic cell and an ancestral cyanobacteria (mitochondria)

multicellularity

cooperation between cells to make larger individuals and assign roles to specialized cells. it is made possible as there a high degree of genetic relatedness among the cooperative cells as well as a distinction between somatic and germ line cells to prevent unnecessary reproduction.

sociality

cooperation between individuals of the same species

eusociality

akin to multicellularity which individuals of a colony/hive can act like somatic cells while usually the “queen” acts as the germline cell; workers can cheat on this agreement

human ultrasocilaity

unlike multicellularity and eusociality because everyone can reproduce; akin to symbiosis within the euk. cell as domesticated plants and animals bring different things in the relationship, leading to a division of labor; there are occasional cheaters

meoisis

creates a level playing field that determines among genes regarding which ones make it into a particular gene

driving genes/meiotic drive

genes that cheat the fair playing field made by meiosis by putting (driving) themselves into more than their fair share of gametes.

symbiosis

the cooperation between two different entities

mitochondria

an ancestral cyanobacterium that was enveloped by an ancestral eukaryote and later evolved to become the mitochondria which acts like an energy supplier to the whole cell

chloroplasts

an ancestral photosynthetic cyanobacteria that was enveloped by an ancestral eukaryote and later evolved to become chloroplasts which converts sunlight into energy which acts as an energy supplier to the cell

Dicty slime molds

these slime molds engage in a very basic form of temporary multicellularity

somatic cells

non reproductive cells that have no effect on the overall genome of offspring

germ cells

a reproductive cell that has complete influence on the genome of the offspring

cancer cells (cheating cells)

cancer cells are somatic cells that try reproducing on their own despite this being an unsuccessful strategy in the long run unless its contagious; e.g. contagious cancers present in dogs and Tasmanian devils

sloths, moths and algae

sloths dung helps moth and its larvae, moths increase nitrogen in sloth fur to make algae more, algae is eaten by sloth to aid in digestion and more dung

multispecies symbiosis

doesn’t lead to a new level of individuality; can create organisms that appear to be an individual organism

lichens

a multispecies symbiosis between algae/cyanobacteria + fungi; fungi provides structure while algae provides food

kombucha

symbiosis between humans and SCOBY as they are used in the brewing of kombucha

corals

multispecies symbiosis between marine invertebrates + photosynthetic dinoflagellates

microbiomes

a symbiosis between humans and bacteria to aid in digestion

vampire bat blood sharing

vampire bats will share food with other bats to ensure that they will get food from another bat if food is scarce.

cooperative breeding

a reproductive strategy where usually individuals of close genetic relatedness (siblings) will help raise offspring of others.

division of labour

assigning a certain role upon an individual unit within the collective

Mancur Olson

George Williams