M. xanthus displays elaborate development, forming multicellular fruiting bodies.

Extensive gene duplication led to an expansion of signaling proteins in M. xanthus.

Fruiting body formation is an obligate multicellular process and is kin selective.

Single-cell regulation is mediated by the stringent response and several two-component signaling systems.

Development at the population level is regulated by a series of extracellular cues.