Thus, the only evidence comes from mathematical simulations. Thus, hypercycles may develop by duplicating of the original gene and subsequent differentiation of genes. This process corresponds well to the Turchin's scheme of metasystem transition. A colony is formed of a progeny of a single cell. The colony controls several functions of cells.
Cells divide mostly in the direction of the colony surface.
There is also coordination of colony movement. The direction of movement is determined by a kind of 'voting' among cells. The colony moves in the direction where the majority of cells want to move. Volvox produces daughter colonies inside which are clearly visible in movies presented at the Microscopy-UK web page . Probably, protection of daughter colonies from predation is one of the functions of the colony.