Email a Friend
Printer Friendly
Slashdot It!
Submit to Reddit
Add to Facebook

Some cheaters can keep it in their genes

March 14, 2008

A new study examining social behaviour suggests certain individuals are genetically programmed to cheat and often will do- providing they can get away with it.

The researchers looked at slime moulds - microscopic single-cell organisms or amoebae that are forced to cooperate with one another when food is in short supply. Studying slime moulds at the cellular level provides the scientists with a unique insight into the genes that may also influence human behaviour.

The international team, including biologists from The University of Manchester, found that some amoebae have the ability to use cheating tactics to give them a better chance of survival. The research - published in the journal Nature - not only demonstrates that cheating is a natural phenomenon governed by our genes but that it may be widespread among social creatures.

"Slime mould amoebae feed off bacteria in the soil but when food becomes scarce they aggregate to form a fruiting body of some 100,000 cells," explained Dr Chris Thompson, in Manchester's Faculty of Life Sciences.

"Some cells become the spore, while about one-quarter form a stalk. The stalk cells die - they appear to sacrifice themselves to allow the spore cells to be dispersed on the wind to new feeding grounds."

The team's earlier work had focused on this remarkable level of cooperation in the hope of gaining an insight into why some cells demonstrated such altruistic behaviour. They concluded that the selfless acts were due to the unacceptable cost of non-cooperation - without a stalk, no amoebae would escape to new feeding grounds and all would perish.

But this latest research has uncovered a dark and complex subplot where some cells cheat the system to give themselves a better chance of survival. And this deadly game must constantly evolve as cells find new and better ways of cheating in what is effectively an evolutionary arms race.

"Social behaviour is an unresolved problem in biology - why would anyone be altruistic and give up something for someone else"" said Dr Thompson. "Our findings suggest that there is no single answer able to explain our observations but that a number of factors are at play.

"An analogy can be drawn from people in a sinking boat. If some people cheat by refusing to bail out water they benefit by conserving energy and will last longer as a result. But if not enough people bail water, or those that do become too exhausted, then everyone, including the cheaters, will drown.

"Interestingly, we noted that cheats only cheated in the presence of non-cheaters - when they could get away with not 'bailing water'. When surrounded by other cheaters, they contribute to the group effort again, 'aware' that if no one does, all of them will die."

University of Manchester

Related Amoebae Current Events and Amoebae News Articles

Amoebae Current Events and Amoebae News RSS

Recalculating cell sensing
Mobile biological cells may be twice as good at following chemical signals as previously believed possible, according to Princeton researchers publishing in the latest issue of Physical Review Letters.

Human cells exhibit foraging behavior like amoebae and bacteria
When cells move about in the body, they follow a complex pattern similar to that which amoebae and bacteria use when searching for food, a team of Vanderbilt researchers have found.

Texas-sized tract of single-celled clones
A Rice University study of microbes from a Houston-area cow pasture has confirmed once again that everything is bigger in Texas, even the single-celled stuff. The tests revealed the first-ever report of a large, natural colony of amoebae clones -- a Texas-sized expanse measuring at least 12 meters across.

Contact lenses are home to pathogenic amoebae
Contact lenses increase the risk of infection with pathogenic protozoa that can cause blindness.

Researchers discover how infectious bacteria can switch species
Scientists from the Universities of Bath and Exeter have developed a rapid new way of checking for toxic genes in disease-causing bacteria which infect insects and humans.

Biofilms use chemical weapons
Bacteria rarely come as loners; more often they grow in crowds and squat on surfaces where they form a community together.

Where man boldly goes, bacteria follow
Life in outer space is an absolute certainty, and it is likely to be more familiar than we might think, according to an article in the May issue of Microbiology Today. Ever since the start of the space race we have sent more than just satellites and astronauts into space: spacecraft are not routinely decontaminated and are teeming with microbial life.

Microbial 'cheaters' help scientists ID 'social' genes
The first genome-wide search for genes governing social behavior has found that even the simplest social creatures -- the amoebae Dictyostelium discoideum -- have more than 100 genes that help regulate their cooperative behavior.

Rice breakthrough could prevent multiple fibrotic diseases
A scientific breakthrough at Rice University could lead to the first treatment that prevents the build-up of deadly scar tissue in a broad class of diseases that account for an estimated 45 percent of U.S. deaths each year.

Tight-knit family: Even microbes favor their own kin
New research published by Rice University biologists in this week's issue of Nature finds that even the simplest of social creatures - single-celled amoebae - have the ability not only to recognize their own family members but also to selectively discriminate in favor of them.

More Amoebae Current Events and Amoebae News Articles

	Amoeba Amore The Dials (Primary Contributor)
	The Social Amoebae: The Biology of Cellular Slime Molds by John Tyler Bonner (Author) Noted biologist and author John Tyler Bonner has experimented with cellular slime molds for more than sixty years, and he has done more than anyone else to raise these peculiar collections of amoebae from a minor biological curiosity to a major model organism--one that is widely studied for clues to the development and evolution of all living things. Now, five decades after he published his first pioneering book on cellular slime molds, Bonner steps back from the proliferating and increasingly specialized knowledge about the organism to provide a broad, nontechnical picture of its whole biology, including its evolution, sociobiology, ecology, behavior, and development. The Social Amoebae draws the big lessons from decades of research, and shows how slime molds fit into and illuminate...
	Amoeba's Secret by Paul Mccartney On June 27, 2007, Paul McCartney shocked the music world by performing a surprise first ever in-store performance at a famed Los Angeles record shop. Previously available only on limited edition vinyl, this historic performance is released for the first time on compact disc. Nominated for two Grammy awards, this is a must have for collectors and music fans alike.
	White Christening Baby Boy Tuxedo Suit, Silver Angel Embroidered, Amoeba pattern, Shirt, Tailcoat, Vest, Bowtie, Pants by FashionCry
	Planet Dog Large Everywear Leash with Comfort Grip Handle Pink Amoeba by Planet Dog The Leash feature a soft handle wrapped in a moisture wicking technical grip to keep human hands dry and comfy and are available in our unique five foot length.
	Amoeba Design Decorative Skin Decal Sticker for Lenovo IdeaPad S10 Netbook Laptop Computer by MyGift This Lenovo IdeaPad S10 netbook skin is covered with a clear protectant layer for the ultimate in durability, it use a patented repositionable & removable adhesive backing for fast, easy and accurate installation and goo-free removal! They are paper-thin so they do not add any bulk. Skins are easy to apply (no bubbles), durable and easily removable without any residue. (Note: Due to differences in monitors, color may vary from photo.)
	The Social Amoebae: The Biology of Cellular Slime Molds by Princeton University Press Noted biologist and author John Tyler Bonner has experimented with cellular slime molds for more than sixty years, and he has done more than anyone else to raise these peculiar collections of amoebae from a minor biological curiosity to a major model organism--one that is widely studied for clues to the development and evolution of all living things. Now, five decades after he published his first pioneering book on cellular slime molds, Bonner steps back from the proliferating and increasingly specialized knowledge about the organism to provide a broad, nontechnical picture of its whole biology, including its evolution, sociobiology, ecology, behavior, and development. The Social Amoebae draws the big lessons from decades of research, and shows how slime molds fit into and illuminate...
	Space Amoeba Starring: Akira Kubo, Atsuko Takahashi, Yukiko Kobayashi, Kenji Sahara, Yoshio Tsuchiya Directed By: Ishirô Honda Also With: Taiichi Kankura (Cinematographer), Masahisa Himi (Editor), Fumio Tanaka (Producer), Salvatore Billitteri (Producer), Samuel Z. Arkoff (Producer), Tomoyuki Tanaka (Producer), Ei Ogawa (Writer)
	TOP DANGLE Green AMOEBA Acrylic Multi-Layered Belly Ring by Body Candy Unique SWIVEL Top Dangle Navel Ring. Get in style and add have Fun with this Acrylic Multi-Layered Belly Button Ring.. Specifications: 14 Gauge (1.6mm), 7/16 Length (11 mm), 316L Surgical Grade Stainless Steel, 5mm top ball. TOP DANGLE Green AMOEBA Acrylic Multi-Layered Belly Ring