Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 10, 2025

An Optimized O9-1/Hydrogel System for Studying Mechanical Signals in Neural Crest Cells
Published on: August 13, 2021
Kin Recognition Systems and Their Role in Multicellular Behaviors
1Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA;
Abstract:
Interactions between individuals are at the foundation of every community. Furthermore, multicellular behaviors can emerge when individuals come together. Microbes-bacteria, fungi, archaea, and parasites-can engage in multicellular behaviors, which help with population dispersal, infections, and protection from environmental threats. A critical interaction in collectives is determining whether the interacting neighbor is a sibling (kin) or a nonsibling (nonkin). Multiple molecular ways exist to achieve kin recognition and discrimination, especially when fitness is essential. This review considers four bacterial and eukaryotic microorganisms that engage in collective migration and where recognition is known or implied as part of their emergent behavior. This comparative analysis considers shared themes about recognition behaviors among these social microbes, as well as open questions. As more is learned about why kin recognition occurs in different species, a greater understanding will emerge about its evolutionary history and the potential for exogenous control of microbial social groups.
Related Concept Videos
Overview of Cell Signaling
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily involved...
What is Cell Signaling?
Cell Signaling in Plants
Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules
Ig-CAMs exhibit either homophilic binding (to other Ig-CAMs) or heterophilic binding (to other ligands such as integrins). While most Ig-CAMs...
Assembly of Signaling Complexes
Interaction domains in cell signaling
Interaction domains recognize exposed features of their binding partners containing post-translationally modified sequences,...

