Cell size matters: a unifying theory across the tree of life

2025/10/02 by Marcin Czarnołęski, Wilco C. E. P. Verberk · 1 voice · 1 citation
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Environmental Science · Neuroscience · #Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research #Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms #Physiological and biochemical adaptations

paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/j.tree.2025.09.003

openalex publication_date 2025/10/02 · openalex created_date 2025/10/03 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/15

Abstract

Cell size shapes how organisms interact with their environment, yet our understanding of these effects remains fragmented. We synthesise these effects into a Theory of Optimal Cell Size (TOCS), predicting that the size of single-cell organisms, as well as the number and size of cells in multicellular organisms, is subject to strong selection. At the heart of TOCS lies a trade-off between power and energy conservation: cell size acts as a 'double-edged sword', influencing both resource acquisition and maintenance costs. Major evolutionary transitions across the tree of life are connected with innovations in cellular organisation. A unified framework for cell size adaptation is essential for revealing the fundamental principles governing the ecology and evolution of life.

Citations

• Evolution and development of Drosophila melanogaster under different thermal conditions affected cell sizes and sensitivity to paralyzing hypoxia
• Do Performance–Safety Tradeoffs Cause Hypometric Metabolic Scaling in Animals?
• The Scaling of Genome Size and Cell Size Limits Maximum Rates of Photosynthesis with Implications for Ecological Strategies
• Macronuclear development in ciliates, with a focus on nuclear architecture
• The global distribution of angiosperm genome size is shaped by climate
• The emerging view on the origin and early evolution of eukaryotic cells

Cited by

• The “fire of life cycles”: age-specific metabolic scaling within and among species

Discussions

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