Acytota and the evolution of complexity
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F68081707%3A_____%2F25%3A00642915" target="_blank" >RIV/68081707:_____/25:00642915 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00249-025-01802-7" target="_blank" >https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00249-025-01802-7</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00249-025-01802-7" target="_blank" >10.1007/s00249-025-01802-7</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Acytota and the evolution of complexity
Original language description
The overall complexity of organisms increases during the course of evolution, starting with the first self-replicating molecules, followed by prokaryotes and eukaryotes, first unicellular and later multicellular. We present an opinion that non-cellular genetic entities such as transposable elements, plasmids, viruses and viroids, although originally parasitic, selfish and sometimes destructive elements, may contribute to the increase of complexity. We propose that non-cellular genetic elements impose (parasitic) pressure on the cooperative genes of cellular organisms, driving the sequence of evolutionary transitions from the first cooperative replicators to multicellular life forms, and have suggested that they belong to a separate kingdom of life, the Acytota. The complexity increase is probably caused by the high proliferation capacity of these non-cellular genetic elements, their frequent horizontal gene transfer, participation in parasite-host arms races, formation of epigenetic silencing mechanisms as well as the ability to build genetic regulatory networks. Simultaneously, these elements contribute to complexity by supplying genetic material via domestication, genome rearrangements, and dispersal of regulatory elements. Complexity has not only increased during evolution, there are also examples of simplification, both during chemical evolution (in prebiotic chemistry) and the evolution of parasites. Therefore, we describe the ups and downs of organism complexity and discuss the reasons for the general dominant upward trend, namely coevolution and the interaction of existing modules.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
10610 - Biophysics
Result continuities
Project
Result was created during the realization of more than one project. More information in the Projects tab.
Continuities
I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace
Others
Publication year
2025
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
European Biophysics Journal With Biophysics Letters
ISSN
0175-7571
e-ISSN
1432-1017
Volume of the periodical
54
Issue of the periodical within the volume
8
Country of publishing house
DE - GERMANY
Number of pages
11
Pages from-to
625-635
UT code for WoS article
001600753300001
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-105019979122