Cheater-resistance is not futile.
Cooperative social systems are susceptible to cheating by individuals that reap the benefits of cooperation without incurring the costs. There are various theoretical mechanisms for the repression of cheating and many have been tested experimentally. One possibility that has not been tested rigorously is the evolution of mutations that confer resistance to cheating. Here we show that the presence of a cheater in a population of randomly mutated social amoebae can select for cheater-resistance. Furthermore, we show that this cheater-resistance can be a noble strategy because the resister strain does not necessarily exploit other strains. Thus, the evolution of resisters may be instrumental in preserving cooperative behaviour in the face of cheating.
Khare
Anupama
A
Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Santorelli
Lorenzo A
LA
Strassmann
Joan E
JE
Queller
David C
DC
Kuspa
Adam
A
Shaulsky
Gad
G
D000818:Animals; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004023:Dictyostelium / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D017125:Genes, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012919:Social Behavior; D033761:Spores, Protozoan / Q000502:physiology
D015800:Protozoan Proteins