Project description
Insight into the evolution of life cycles
All organisms are born, grow and reproduce, and this life cycle exhibits great heterogeneity, even among unicellular and simple multicellular organisms. The scope of the EU-funded EVOLIFE project is to understand how life cycles evolve given their implication in the emergence of complex traits and advanced multicellularity. By combining methods of biology, mathematics and physics, scientists will investigate the interplay of factors that drive the evolution of multicellular life cycles. The project's results will unveil fundamental information on events that took place billions of years ago during the transition from single cells to complex multicellular organisms.
Objective
Life cycles are central to all living organisms on Earth -- every living being is born, grows, and eventually reproduces. There is a great diversity of life cycles even among species we consider ``simple'': unicellular and primitive multicellular life forms. They reproduce in a number of ways: by fragmentation of the colony in multicellular pieces, by emission of unicellular propagules, and by dissolution of the organism into solitary cells. The choice of life cycle has a strong impact on the evolution of complex traits on the way to advanced multicellularity. But what drives the evolution of life cycles in the first place? The proposed research project will develop theoretical foundations for the evolution of multicellular life cycles. We will investigate the evolution of reproduction via a single-cell bottleneck (WP1), the impact of cell colony structure on the evolution of reproduction modes (WP2), the eco-evolutionary dynamics of multicellular life cycles (WP3), and generalise over previous findings to reveal the interplay of factors driving the evolution of multicellular life cycles (WP4). To do so, we will combine methods and insights from mathematics, physics, demography and classical biology. The proposed research program will cast light on the fundamental principles behind one of the most fascinating events in the history of life - the transition from simple solitary cells to complex multicellular existence. As such, the research results will be of interest not only to academics but also the general public. In addition, the Researcher will further enhance his knowledge and skills by working in an internationally renowned institution alongside experts in the field.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- humanities history and archaeology history
- social sciences sociology demography
- natural sciences mathematics
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
EC1V 0HB LONDON
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.