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Pleiotropy as a mechanism to stabilize cooperation

Author

Listed:
  • Kevin R. Foster

    (Rice University)

  • Gad Shaulsky

    (Baylor College of Medicine)

  • Joan E. Strassmann

    (Rice University)

  • David C. Queller

    (Rice University)

  • Chris R. L. Thompson

    (Baylor College of Medicine
    University of Manchester)

Abstract

Most genes affect many traits1,2,3,4. This phenomenon, known as pleiotropy, is a major constraint on evolution because adaptive change in one trait may be prevented because it would compromise other traits affected by the same genes2,4. Here we show that pleiotropy can have an unexpected effect and benefit one of the most enigmatic of adaptations—cooperation. A spectacular act of cooperation occurs in the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum, in which some cells die to form a stalk that holds the other cells aloft as reproductive spores5,6. We have identified a gene, dimA7, in D. discoideum that has two contrasting effects. It is required to receive the signalling molecule DIF-1 that causes differentiation into prestalk cells. Ignoring DIF-1 and not becoming prestalk should allow cells to cheat by avoiding the stalk. However, we find that in aggregations containing the wild-type cells, lack of the dimA gene results in exclusion from spores. This pleiotropic linkage of stalk and spore formation limits the potential for cheating in D. discoideum because defecting on prestalk cell production results in an even greater reduction in spores. We propose that the evolution of pleiotropic links between cheating and personal costs can stabilize cooperative adaptations.

Suggested Citation

  • Kevin R. Foster & Gad Shaulsky & Joan E. Strassmann & David C. Queller & Chris R. L. Thompson, 2004. "Pleiotropy as a mechanism to stabilize cooperation," Nature, Nature, vol. 431(7009), pages 693-696, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:431:y:2004:i:7009:d:10.1038_nature02894
    DOI: 10.1038/nature02894
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    Cited by:

    1. Baṣkaya, Yusuf Soner & Hardy, Bryan & Kalemli-Özcan, Ṣebnem & Yue, Vivian, 2024. "Sovereign risk and bank lending: Evidence from 1999 Turkish Earthquake," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    2. Giovanni Scarinci & Jan-Luca Ariens & Georgia Angelidou & Sebastian Schmidt & Timo Glatter & Nicole Paczia & Victor Sourjik, 2024. "Enhanced metabolic entanglement emerges during the evolution of an interkingdom microbial community," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    3. Martin Schuster & Eric Foxall & David Finch & Hal Smith & Patrick De Leenheer, 2017. "Tragedy of the commons in the chemostat," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(12), pages 1-13, December.
    4. David C Queller, 2019. "Pleiotropy and synergistic cooperation," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(6), pages 1-3, June.

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