In the aggregation of amoebae into a multicellular slug, which statement is true regarding conflicts of interest?

In the aggregation of amoebae into a multicellular slug, the statement that cheater mutations enhance individual fitness is accurate because it highlights the different strategies organisms might take that can lead to individual advantages at the expense of group cohesion.

In this context, "cheater mutations" refer to genetic changes that enable some individuals to benefit from the cooperative behavior of others without contributing themselves. This situation is crucial in understanding evolutionary dynamics, particularly in cooperative species or groups. Those who cheat can often proliferate more effectively in environments where group cooperation is advantageous because they reap the benefits of resources and protection that cooperators work to provide.

This dynamic creates a conflict of interest among individuals; while cooperation is essential for the survival of the group as a whole, those who do not cooperate and instead exploit the system can increase their own fitness relative to their cooperative counterparts. This ongoing struggle between cooperative behaviors and cheating is a fundamental theme in evolutionary biology, illustrating how natural selection operates not only at the level of the individual but also influences group dynamics.

By emphasizing the prevalence of such cheater mutations within a population, we can understand the complexities of cooperation and conflict in evolutionary terms, further illuminating the nuanced interactions that occur in multicellular systems like the slug formed by amoebae.