Division of labour and the evolution of complex groups

Thesis

Division of labour occurs when cooperating individuals specialise to perform different roles. This kind of behaviour is encountered widely across the tree of life, from the separate functions of distinct genes within a genome to the specialised castes of eusocial insect societies. However, division of labour is not simply a ubiquitous social behaviour across the natural world. Instead, it has also been a critical factor in the evolution of more and more complex forms of life.

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Authors: Cooper, G

• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Keywords: Complexity; Division of labour; Evolution
• Subjects: Evolutionary theory