Heterogeneous individual motility biases group composition in a model of aggregating cells

Aggregative life cycles are characterized by alternating phases of unicellular growth and multicellular development. Their multiple, independent evolutionary emergence suggests that they may have coopted pervasive properties single-celled ancestors. Primitive aggregates, where coordination mechanisms were less efficient than in extant aggregative microbes, must faced high levels conflict between different co-aggregating populations. Such conflicts within a body manifest the differential reproductive output cells types. Here, we study how heterogeneity cell motility affects aggregation process creates mismatch composition population self-organized groups active adhesive particles. We model as self-propelled particles describe plane starting from dispersed configuration. Inspired cycle organisms such Dictyostelium discoideum or Myxococcus xanthus , whose interact for fixed duration before onset chimeric development, finite-time configurations identical binary mixes. show co-aggregation results three types frequency-dependent biases, one which is associated to evolutionarily stable coexistence with motility. propose heuristic explanation observations, based on competition delayed slower detachment faster Unexpectedly, despite complexity non-linearity system, biases can be largely predicted behavior two corresponding homogenous This points possibly important factor driving facultatively life-cycles.