THE DEVELOPMENT OF COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN ANIMALS AND BACTERIA - ESTABLISHING DETENTE AMONG DOMAINS

Despite the ubiquitous occurrence of cooperative associations between animals and bacteria, there is little understanding of how these inter actions arose, how they evolved, and how they persist, Thus, an extens ive database concerning the influence of bacteria on developmental pat hways is not yet available. However, in much the same way that mutuall y beneficial liaisons are created between nations with vastly differen t histories and cultures, it is likely that highly refined development al mechanisms exist in which a type of detente is created to retain th e integrity of the associations between the partners, both within and between generations, These developmental pathways would be responsible for insuring that a balance of cell growth is established and maintai ned among the community members, comprised of animal and microbial cel ls, such that neither form of pathogenesis, i.e., over-growth (war) or aposymbiosis (isolation), ensues. This contribution examines aspects of how alliances with prokaryotes may have been integrated into the me chanisms and patterns of host animal developmental programs.