Top-Down Coercive Mechanisms and the Major Transitions in Evolution

We propose that top-down coercive mechanisms have played a role in the origin and maintenance of the Major Transitions in Evolution (MTE). Top-down coercion has potentially been underappreciated due to the lack of a conceptual framework. Therefore, we provide a formalized top-down coercion framework for the MTE. Our conceptualization of top-down biological coercion is a loss of potential due to a constraint from the top-down. We also present three case studies of coercive top-down mechanisms in the evolution of eukaryotic cells, multicellularity and eusocial insect colonies. The MTE project studies the origin and maintenance of new levels of individuality in the biological hierarchy. Previously, the MTE has been conceived as a bottom-up process. Our coercion framework provides new empirical questions regarding the origin of transitions and helps reframe discussions of fitness in the MTE.