Marine Yeast Reveals Genetic Secrets of Multicellularity and Evolutionary Flexibility

Marine yeast reveals genetic secrets of multicellularity and evolutionary flexibility

Scientists at Nagoya University in Japan have identified the genes that allow an organism to switch between living as single cells and forming multicellular structures.

Genetic switch between unicellularity and multicellularity in marine yeasts

The evolution of multicellularity is considered to be a major transition in the history of life on Earth1. In the evolution from unicellularity to obligate multicellularity, facultative clonal multicellularity may constitute an intermediate state, in which unicellular proliferation and clonal multicellular growth are switchable2–4. However, little is known about the mechanisms of switching. Here we identify the genetic and cellular basis of nutr…

Molecular Switch Found to Control Single-Celled to Multicellular Transitions

Scientists at Nagoya University in Japan have identified the genes that allow an organism to switch between living as single cells and forming multicellular structures.