Does Simple Clumping Explain the Origin of Multicellularity?

• Bergman J.

  Author

• D. Budinsky

  Author

• M. Nailor

  Author

Laboratory evolution experiments in which the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii forms cell clusters under predatory pressure are frequently cited as a direct observation of the origin of multicellularity. We review the most widely discussed of these studies and evaluate the claim against the biological requirements for complex multicellularity and against the predictions of a creation model. The evidence indicates that what was observed is the rapid, heritable expression of a pre-existing capacity for group formation, not the origin of the novel genetic machinery that differentiated multicellular life requires. The evolved clusters remain undifferentiated, lack division of labor, sacrifice motility, and draw on adhesion and extracellular-matrix genes already present in the algal genome and shared with its multicellular relatives. Comparable outcomes in other algae, in yeast, and in bacteria, together with recent work showing that group formation is frequently not adaptive, support the interpretation that these organisms carry engineered, environment-responsive programs for facultative aggregation. We argue that predator-induced clustering is better explained as designed phenotypic plasticity than as a macroevolutionary transition, and we set out the differing predictions of the evolutionary and creation models.

1. Bergman J.

   Jerry Bergman has taught biology, genetics, chemistry, biochemistry, anthropology, geology, and microbiology at Northwest State College in Archbold OH for over 25 years. He has 9 degrees, including 7 graduate (= ‘post-graduate’ in some non-US systems) degrees. Dr Bergman is a graduate of Medical College of Ohio, Wayne State University in Detroit, The University of Toledo, and Bowling Green State University. He has over 800 publications in 12 languages and 20 books and monographs. He has also taught at the Medical College of Ohio where he was a research associate in the department of experimental pathology, and he also taught 6 years at the University of Toledo, and 7 years at Bowling Green State University.

   Among his books is a monograph on peer evaluation published by the College Student Journal Press, a Fastback on the creation-evolution controversy published by Phi Delta Kappa, a book on vestigial organs with Dr George Howe (‘Vestigial Organs’ are Fully Functional), a book on psychology and religious cults, a book on religious discrimination published by Onesimus Press, and a book on mental health published by Claudius Verlag in München. He has also published a college textbook on evaluation (Boston, Houghton Mifflin Co.), and has contributed to dozens of other textbooks. He was also a consultant for over 20 science text books, mostly biology and biochemistry.

2. D. Budinsky

   Donny worked as a Registered Practical Nurse for many years. During his time working as an RPN, he converted to Christianity and became a Young Earth Creationist. This was after being confronted with evidence that contradicted his belief in evolution. 

3. M. Nailor

   Sindonologist and gerontologist specializing in the biology of aging and disease, Matt Nailor holds a Doctor of Divinity. His research focuses on the evolutionary theory of aging, which accounts for senescence through mutation accumulation, antagonistic pleiotropy, and disposable soma theory. This work engages origins science, with particular attention to molecular aging, mutation rates and accumulation, biological evolution, genetic variation, and historical linguistics.

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