The Emergence of Multicellularity: A De Novo Evolution.

Researchers have demonstrated the de novo evolution of macroscopic multicellularity in yeast populations under laboratory conditions. The study shows that the evolution of multicellularity can occur through simple biophysical mechanisms, such as mechanical stress and cell adhesion, without the need for genetic changes. The findings shed light on the origins of multicellularity and have implications for understanding the evolution of complex life forms.