This is the closest that article gets to an &quot;explanation&quot;:<p>&gt; <i>A single mutation that repurposed a certain type of protein. Instead of working as enzymes (proteins that facilitate reactions inside the cell) the proteins were now what’s known as an interaction domain. They could communicate with and bind to other proteins, a useful skill for cells that have decided to trade the rugged individualist life for the collaboration of a group.</i><p>Which is total gibberish.  Yet unsurprisingly the abstract to the actual paper (helpfully linked in the wapo article: <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;elifesciences.org&#x2F;content&#x2F;5&#x2F;e10147" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;elifesciences.org&#x2F;content&#x2F;5&#x2F;e10147</a>) is gibberish to me for different reasons.<p>Is anyone expert enough to attempt a &quot;for technical dummies&quot; reading?