When does division of labor lead to increased system output?

DOI10.1016/J.JTBI.2007.03.020MaRDI QIDQ2219728zbMATH OpenOpenAlexWikidataFDO

Authors Emmanuel Tannenbaum

Publication date 21 January 2021

Published in Journal of Theoretical Biology (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/q-bio/0605047

zbMATH Keywords

agent-based modelsdifferentiationdivision of labormetabolismreplicationstem cellstissue architecture

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Labor markets (91B39) Developmental biology, pattern formation (92C15) Problems related to evolution (92D15)

Abstract: This paper develops a set of simplified dynamical models with which to explore the conditions under which division of labor leads to optimized system output, as measured by the rate of production of a given product. We consider two models: In the first model, we consider the flow of some resource into a compartment, and the conversion of this resource into some product. In the second model, we consider the resource-limited growth of autoreplicating systems. In this case, we divide the replication and metabolic tasks among different agents. The general features that emerge from our models is that division of labor is favored when the resource to agent ratio is at intermediate values, and when the time cost associated with transporting intermediate products is small compared to characteristic process times. We discuss the results of this paper in the context of simulations with digital life. We also argue that division of labor in the context of our replication model suggests an evolutionary basis for the emergence of the stem-cell-based tissue architecture in complex organisms.

Recommendations

• Division of labor as the result of phase transition
• Quantifying the effects of the division of labor in metabolic pathways
• Can cell mortality determine division of labor in tissue organization?
• Evolution of division of labor: emergence of different activities among group members
• The mechanisms of labor division from the perspective of individual optimization

Cites work

• Cell division, differentiation and dynamic clustering
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 750122 (Why is no real title available?)
• Isologous diversification: A theory of cell differentiation
• The Firm as a Communication Network

Cited in

(4)

• Division of labor as the result of phase transition
• The mechanisms of labor division from the perspective of individual optimization
• Evolution of division of labor: emergence of different activities among group members
• Can cell mortality determine division of labor in tissue organization?

This page was built for publication: When does division of labor lead to increased system output?

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q2219728)