Jove
Visualize
Contact Us

Related Concept Videos

Microbial Morphologies01:29

Microbial Morphologies

1.3K
Bacterial and archaeal cells exhibit remarkable diversity in shape and structure, critical in their adaptability and functionality. Among bacteria, the most commonly observed shapes include cocci and bacilli. Cocci are spherical and may exist singly or in groupings such as pairs (diplococci), chains (streptococci), clusters (staphylococci), or tetrads. Bacilli, in contrast, are rod-shaped and can also occur as single cells, in pairs, or chains, depending on their environmental and genetic...
1.3K
Applications of Molecular Taxonomy01:20

Applications of Molecular Taxonomy

258
Molecular taxonomy has revolutionized the understanding and classification of bacteria, providing precise insights into their diversity, evolutionary relationships, and ecological roles. By utilizing molecular techniques such as DNA sequencing and fingerprinting, researchers have made significant strides in various fields related to bacterial studies.Resolving Taxonomic AmbiguitiesMolecular taxonomy has been instrumental in distinguishing closely related bacterial species initially thought to...
258
The Tree of Life - Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryotes02:40

The Tree of Life - Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryotes

36.4K
The “tree of life” describes the evolution of life and the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The root of the tree is the common ancestor to all life on Earth. All other species radiate from this point, much like the branches of a tree. The numerous tips of these branches on the tree of life represent every living, or extant, species. Extinct species, which are species that no longer exist, can be found towards the center of the tree. Currently, these organisms, both...
36.4K
Two-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology01:29

Two-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

791
Two-dimensional (2D) microscopy encompasses a range of optical techniques that capture images within a single focal plane, offering detailed representations of microscopic structures. These techniques are essential in biological and medical research, enabling the visualization of cellular and subcellular structures with different levels of contrast and specificity.There are several major types of 2D microscopy, each with strengths and applications.Bright-Field MicroscopyBright-field microscopy...
791

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Evolution of a bistable genetic system in fluctuating and nonfluctuating environments.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2024
Same author

Transcription-driven DNA supercoiling counteracts H-NS-mediated gene silencing in bacterial chromatin.

Nature communications·2024
Same author

Analysis of <i>Salmonella</i> lineage-specific traits upon cell sorting.

Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology·2023
Same author

DNA Methylation in Prokaryotes.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2022
Same author

Genetic Mining of Newly Isolated Salmophages for Phage Therapy.

International journal of molecular sciences·2022
Same author

Pervasive transcription enhances the accessibility of H-NS-silenced promoters and generates bistability in <i>Salmonella</i> virulence gene expression.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2022
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 1, 2025

Microbiota of Attine Ants' Gardens: Visualizing a Microbial Landscape by Scanning Electron Microscopy
07:00

Microbiota of Attine Ants' Gardens: Visualizing a Microbial Landscape by Scanning Electron Microscopy

Published on: October 4, 2024

822

Waddington's Landscapes in the Bacterial World.

María A Sánchez-Romero1, Josep Casadesús1

  • 1Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain.

Frontiers in Microbiology
|June 21, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Bacterial cells exhibit phenotypic variation, akin to Waddington's epigenetic landscape, enabling adaptation through heritable epigenetic states. This heterogeneity aids survival in unpredictable environments via division of labor or bet hedging strategies.

Keywords:
DNA methylationbistabilitylineage formationnoisephenotypic heterogeneity

More Related Videos

Generating Controlled, Dynamic Chemical Landscapes to Study Microbial Behavior
10:07

Generating Controlled, Dynamic Chemical Landscapes to Study Microbial Behavior

Published on: January 31, 2020

6.3K
Assembly and Tracking of Microbial Community Development within a Microwell Array Platform
09:24

Assembly and Tracking of Microbial Community Development within a Microwell Array Platform

Published on: June 6, 2017

9.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 1, 2025

Microbiota of Attine Ants' Gardens: Visualizing a Microbial Landscape by Scanning Electron Microscopy
07:00

Microbiota of Attine Ants' Gardens: Visualizing a Microbial Landscape by Scanning Electron Microscopy

Published on: October 4, 2024

822
Generating Controlled, Dynamic Chemical Landscapes to Study Microbial Behavior
10:07

Generating Controlled, Dynamic Chemical Landscapes to Study Microbial Behavior

Published on: January 31, 2020

6.3K
Assembly and Tracking of Microbial Community Development within a Microwell Array Platform
09:24

Assembly and Tracking of Microbial Community Development within a Microwell Array Platform

Published on: June 6, 2017

9.2K

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Conrad Waddington's epigenetic landscape metaphor is applicable to bacterial phenotypic variation.
  • Bacterial differentiation with morphological changes is well-documented.
  • Phenotypic variants lacking morphological changes are increasingly revealed by single-cell technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the applicability of the epigenetic landscape concept to bacterial phenotypic variation.
  • To discuss the mechanisms and adaptive significance of heritable epigenetic states in bacteria.
  • To highlight the role of phenotypic heterogeneity in bacterial adaptation.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual application of Waddington's epigenetic landscape model.
  • Review of existing literature on bacterial differentiation and phenotypic variation.
  • Analysis of single-cell technologies and gene expression patterns.
  • Game theory predictions on phenotypic heterogeneity.

Main Results:

  • Bacterial phenotypic variants, including those without morphological changes, can be visualized using the epigenetic landscape.
  • Heritable epigenetic states in bacteria arise from diverse mechanisms, from simple feedback loops to DNA methylation.
  • Phenotypic heterogeneity in bacterial populations can be a programmed or random event.
  • Experimental evidence supports game theory predictions of phenotypic heterogeneity for adaptation.

Conclusions:

  • The epigenetic landscape provides a useful framework for understanding bacterial phenotypic variation and adaptation.
  • Heritable epigenetic mechanisms contribute to bacterial resilience and survival in changing environments.
  • Phenotypic heterogeneity is a key evolutionary strategy for bacteria facing environmental challenges.