Social insects, major evolutionary transitions and multilevel selection

摘要: The history of life is characterised by an increase in biological complexity from simple replicators to multicellular organisms. These major evolutionary transitions have common that independent entities came together and cooperated finally a new entity was formed with fitness single fate. Yet, the stable evolution cooperation poses classical Darwinian puzzle: Organisms compete over reproduction selfish individuals reap benefits without paying costs (cheaters) can invade population cooperators drive disappearance cooperation. Social insects become model organisms study how conflict between resolved. Here, I will first summarise what we learned social insect research about Besides little-studied ecological factors determine cooperation, two mechanisms prevent spread cheaters been identified: (i) ancestry aligned interests mainly achieved through relatedness (ii) enforcement make cheating costly. Then, show similar evolved at other levels hierarchy favour Thirdly, present multilevel selection approach, which promises be useful tool multiple levels. end showing approach future might help quantify so societies all alike are being recognised as more than sum their components.