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Bacterial Ventures into Multicellularity: Collectivism through Individuality
Simon van Vliet1, Martin Ackermann2
1Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Environmental Microbiology, Eawag, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Life Science Zurich Graduate School, PhD program in Systems Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Plos Biology
|June 4, 2015
Summary
Bacterial colonies, like multicellular organisms, exhibit emergent functions based on cell arrangement. Spatial organization of differentiated Bacillus subtilis cells dictates their collective behavior and functionality.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Developmental Biology
- Systems Biology
Background:
- Multicellular eukaryotes achieve complex functions through spatially organized, differentiated cells.
- Bacteria also form multicellular collectives with differentiated, yet genetically identical, cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how the spatial arrangement of differentiated bacteria influences collective functionality.
- To demonstrate the parallels between bacterial collectives and higher multicellular organisms.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Bacillus subtilis colony development and spatial organization.
- Observation of emergent behaviors arising from specific cell arrangements.
Main Results:
- The spatial arrangement of differentiated cells in Bacillus subtilis colonies directly impacts their overall functionality.
- Specific spatial patterns lead to distinct collective behaviors, mirroring eukaryotic multicellularity.
Conclusions:
- Bacterial multicellular collectives exhibit functional complexity dependent on spatial cell arrangement.
- The study highlights the fundamental role of spatial organization in the evolution of multicellularity across different domains of life.
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