Re:De novo origins of multicellularity in response to predation
by est31 on Monday February 25, 2019 @06:02PM
(#19250341)
Cells can become large, but can't a single big cell also escape a filter predator that's also a single big cell? There needs to be some reason for why in most cases, both are multicellular.
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Re:De novo origins of multicellularity in response to predation
by kd5bjo on Tuesday February 26, 2019 @12:11AM
(#19252127)
From a mechanics of materials perspective, having a larger size also means being easier to break. Multicellularity seems to be a way to have preferred breaking points that are cheaper and easier for the organism to repair.
Re:De novo origins of multicellularity in response to predation
by flukus on Tuesday February 26, 2019 @01:34AM
(#19252413)
> but can't a single big cell also escape a filter predator that's also a single big cell
Maybe if it's big enough, but there's a huge cost to being big and the cot is harder to bear for more herbivorous cells. For most organisms the better survival strategy is probably to be more numerous and accept a certain level of attrition, hence ants outnumbering humans.