Origin of complexity in multicellular organisms.

Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tokyo, Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan.

Through extensive studies of dynamical system modeling cellular growth and reproduction, we find evidence that complexity arises in multicellular organisms naturally through evolution. Without any elaborate control mechanism, these systems can exhibit complex pattern formation with spontaneous cell differentiation. Such systems employ a "cooperative" use of resources and maintain a larger growth speed than simple cell systems, which exist in a homogeneous state and behave "selfishly." The relevance of the diversity of chemicals and reaction dynamics to the growth of a multicellular organism is demonstrated. Chaotic biochemical dynamics are found to provide the multipotency of stem cells.

PMID: 10991141 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]