Multicellular life may have begun with brief alliances between cells

Single-celled organisms called Stentor can feed more efficiently by pairing up, illustrating a possible step in the evolution of complex life forms.

To Claire Ainsworth

Giant trumpet-shaped cells lurking at the bottom of ponds offer scientists new clues about how unicellular organisms took the first step toward the evolution of multicellular organisms, a key transition in the evolution of life. gave to

For this to happen, there had to be advantages for single cells to stick together, such as improved reproduction and feeding. Studies investigating these ideas have mostly focused on organisms that form groups or colonies in which some cells develop specialized functions.