A tiny aquatic organism from the Caribbean coast is able to transition between its unicellular and multicellular forms through three different pathways

Does the press release accurately reflect the study?

"Yes, it captures the main points quite well".

Is the study of good quality? Are the conclusions supported by solid data?

"Without a doubt, it is a high-quality and comprehensive study. It is clear that the coanoflagellates—or at least this species—can aggregate, and that the environment has a huge influence on their behaviour. Furthermore, it establishes this species as a model organism for analysing evolutionary and ecological questions".

How does this work fit with existing evidence?

"The field always assumed that clonal division and aggregation were mutually exclusive, something this study completely overturns. It is a work that puts aggregation in the spotlight, which aligns with evidence from other unicellular lineages close to animals, such as Capsaspora owczarzaki".

Have the authors considered confounding factors? Are there any important limitations to be aware of?

"The only limitation is that it involves a single species, but in this case, even with just one species, it still allows you to draw all the conclusions the authors do".

What are the real-world implications?

"The implication is entirely scientific: 1) to put aggregation in the spotlight as a potential route to animals, and 2) to establish a new model organism in the field".