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In Vivo Biosensor Tracks Non-apoptotic Caspase Activity in Drosophila

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Cell Death in Evolutionary Transitions in Individuality.

Pierre M Durand¹, Marcelo M Barreto Filho², Richard E Michod³

¹Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine

|December 24, 2019

Summary

Programmed cell death (PCD) is crucial for the evolution of complex life. This study reviews evidence showing PCD

Keywords:

eukaryogenesis evolutionary transitions in individuality insect sociality multicellularity programmed cell death

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Cell biology
Developmental biology

Background:

Programmed cell death (PCD) influences microbial communities and population structures.
The role of PCD in evolutionary transitions in individuality (ETIs) is under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

To examine the impact of PCD on three major ETIs: eukaryogenesis, multicellularity, and the evolution of social insects.
To review theoretical and empirical evidence supporting PCD's role in these transitions.

Main Methods:

Literature review of theoretical and empirical studies on PCD and ETIs.
Analysis of PCD's contribution to eukaryote cell emergence.
Examination of PCD's role in the development of multicellular organisms.
Investigation of PCD's function in the evolution of social insect colonies.

Main Results:

PCD significantly contributed to eukaryogenesis and the evolution of multicellularity.
PCD facilitates the formation of cooperative groups and the evolution of mutual dependencies.
PCD acts as a conflict mediator, enabling division of labor and the origin of new cell types.
In multicellular organisms, PCD aids fitness transfer to the higher-level individual.
In social insects, PCD of worker gonadal cells underlies conflict mediation and colony-level division of labor.

Conclusions:

PCD played an essential role in the three ETIs examined.
Without PCD, alternative mechanisms would have been required for these increases in biological complexity.
PCD is a fundamental process driving evolutionary innovation and the emergence of higher-level individuals.