Sex broadly defined is a natural process combining genes from more than a single source into an individual cell. Sexual recombination in microbial communities refers to the breaking and combining of genetic material with the intent to reproduce beneficial generations. Sex in natural populations of microorganisms has to be understood using gene and [...]
As a whole I really enjoyed the podcast provided by NPR. I think its really great that they were able to hit a lot of key points about the gut that people would find interesting. David was able to break down the complexity of microbial communities making it easy for someone without a [...]
The evolution of virulence runs hand in hand along with the history of infectious diseases throughout centuries. The history of evolution helps explain the impact of infectious diseases in the past and helps guide modern medicine along the correct path of research. As a result of actions that were taken to control an [...]
In reading the paper “Developmental cheating in the social bacterium Myxococcus xanthus” by Velicer, Kroos, and Lenski varying generations of M. xanthus that were defective for fruiting-body development were observed, and the development of cheating as well as if they behaved as cheaters when mixed with their developmentally proficient progenitor (ancestor).
M. xanthus has [...]
As I have stated before, microbial ecology and evolution is something that i have never thought about before. So in reviewing the Costs and Benefits of High Mutation Rates paper it was interesting to see how meticulous it is to identify simple features of an organism and how they evolved. All in all it [...]
So basically the reason why you gain weight is because you eat too much. However it it theorized that the efficiency of how your body stores fat is based on the microbial ecology in your gut. We greatly benefit off of the 100 trillion microorganisms that reside in our gut, because they perform [...]
In reading Fuzzy species among recombinogetic bacteria, it is frustrating how difficult it is to define species using DNA sequences. However, thus far I find it acceptable and easy to understand the the taxonomy of varying bacteria based on common phenotypic traits.
The title of this article is very appropriate knowing that due to [...]
Whitaker’s paper concentrates on the geographic barriers that are involved with the Sulfolobus species. Being extremophiles, this species reside in isolated locations that are easily targeted.
In relation to the Baas-Becking hypothesis, everything is everywhere, that the environment selects, the data collected in this research is supportive. Given the environment of these hot [...]
So my name is Samantha and I’m a former chem now microbio major. I am in this class because it was an option for a class requirement towards my major. I never really thought too much about microbial ecology, but I’m super excited to learn about it!!
Vanity seems to be a long running [...]
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