The simplicity of metazoan cell lineages

Ricardo B. R. Azevedo (), Rolf Lohaus, Volker Braun, Markus Gumbel, Muralikrishna Umamaheshwar, Paul-Michael Agapow, Wouter Houthoofd, Ute Platzer, Gaëtan Borgonie, Hans-Peter Meinzer and Armand M. Leroi
Additional contact information
Ricardo B. R. Azevedo: University of Houston
Rolf Lohaus: University of Houston
Volker Braun: German Cancer Research Center
Markus Gumbel: German Cancer Research Center
Muralikrishna Umamaheshwar: University of Houston
Paul-Michael Agapow: Imperial College
Wouter Houthoofd: Ghent University
Ute Platzer: German Cancer Research Center
Gaëtan Borgonie: Ghent University
Hans-Peter Meinzer: German Cancer Research Center
Armand M. Leroi: Imperial College

Nature, 2005, vol. 433, issue 7022, 152-156

Abstract: How complex is ‘complex’? The programs that control development in the embryos of multicellular animals are thought to be complex. But what does that mean? Can that complexity be quantified? Azevedo et al. have addressed this question based on the similarity between developmental and computer programs. Looking at the embryologies of animals such as roundworms whose cell lineages can be precisely determined, they find the course of development less complex than one would expect by chance. In fact, given the necessity of placing precise numbers of cells in particular positions in developing embryos, these cell lineages could not be much simpler than they are. Evolution has selected for decreased complexity.

Date: 2005
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DOI: 10.1038/nature03178

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