Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
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 Concept Videos

Environmental Applications of Microorganisms01:30

Environmental Applications of Microorganisms

924
Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...
924
Types of Microorganisms01:29

Types of Microorganisms

1.6K
Microorganisms are a diverse group of microscopic entities broadly categorized into cellular and acellular types based on their structural organization. Cellular microorganisms include bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa, and algae, while acellular microorganisms are represented by viruses.Cellular MicroorganismsBacteriaBacteria, tiny prokaryotic organisms, exhibit fascinating shapes such as rods, spheres, and spirals. They adapt to diverse habitats, including soil, water, and human-associated...
1.6K
History of Microbiology01:28

History of Microbiology

7.2K
Microbiology, a scientific field dedicated to the study of microorganisms, has undergone profound development since its inception in the 17th century. Its history is marked by key discoveries and technological advancements that have shaped our understanding of life at the microscopic level and transformed medicine, agriculture, and industry.Early Foundations of MicrobiologyThe early foundations of microbiology were built on groundbreaking observations and the development of pioneering...
7.2K
Microbial Morphologies01:29

Microbial Morphologies

1.8K
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...
1.8K
Biological Methods for Microbial Control01:28

Biological Methods for Microbial Control

770
Biological agents offer an effective means of controlling microbial growth by leveraging natural processes like predation, competition, and the secretion of antimicrobial substances.Predatory bacteria such as Bdellovibrio species target and kill pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli. They are widely used in poultry farms to control infections. Myxococcus species help combat plant-pathogenic fungi. These naturally occurring predators serve as eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides and...
770
Evolutionary Psychology01:20

Evolutionary Psychology

914
Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the...
914

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Non-random mutations and directed evolution.

Bio Systems·2026
Same author

150 Years since the birth of Lev Berg: Nomogenesis is more relevant today than ever.

Bio Systems·2025
Same author

Progressive evolution of plants: A critical review.

Bio Systems·2025
Same author

The problem of evolutionary directionality 50 years following the works of Sergei Meyen.

Bio Systems·2024
Same author

Why does a cell function? New arguments in favor of quantum effects.

Bio Systems·2024
Same author

Unsolved morphogenesis problems and the hidden order.

Bio Systems·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 12, 2026

Microbial Communities in Nature and Laboratory - Interview
29:13

Microbial Communities in Nature and Laboratory - Interview

Published on: May 28, 2007

6.7K

Humans and microbes: A systems theory perspective on coevolution.

A V Melkikh1

  • 1Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia.

Bio Systems
|November 1, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Microbial evolution, including antibiotic adaptation, is a directed process, not random. Understanding this directed evolution and rejecting gene-centricity is key to comprehending human-pathogen coevolution.

Keywords:
BacteriaDirected evolutionDrug resistanceHorizontal gene transferSystems theoryViruses

More Related Videos

Co-culture of Living Microbiome with Microengineered Human Intestinal Villi in a Gut-on-a-Chip Microfluidic Device
10:51

Co-culture of Living Microbiome with Microengineered Human Intestinal Villi in a Gut-on-a-Chip Microfluidic Device

Published on: August 30, 2016

23.3K
Author Spotlight: Understanding Microbe Adaptation Using Innovative Techniques for Exploring Thermophilic Evolution
08:11

Author Spotlight: Understanding Microbe Adaptation Using Innovative Techniques for Exploring Thermophilic Evolution

Published on: June 14, 2024

1.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 12, 2026

Microbial Communities in Nature and Laboratory - Interview
29:13

Microbial Communities in Nature and Laboratory - Interview

Published on: May 28, 2007

6.7K
Co-culture of Living Microbiome with Microengineered Human Intestinal Villi in a Gut-on-a-Chip Microfluidic Device
10:51

Co-culture of Living Microbiome with Microengineered Human Intestinal Villi in a Gut-on-a-Chip Microfluidic Device

Published on: August 30, 2016

23.3K
Author Spotlight: Understanding Microbe Adaptation Using Innovative Techniques for Exploring Thermophilic Evolution
08:11

Author Spotlight: Understanding Microbe Adaptation Using Innovative Techniques for Exploring Thermophilic Evolution

Published on: June 14, 2024

1.3K

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Systems Biology

Background:

  • Microorganisms exhibit rapid adaptation to environmental changes, such as antibiotic exposure.
  • The mechanisms underlying adaptive mutations and horizontal gene transfer in microbes are complex.
  • Traditional views often consider microbial evolution as a random process.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the rapid adaptation of microorganisms to changing environments.
  • To analyze the mechanisms of adaptive mutations and the nature of horizontal gene transfer.
  • To explore the implications of gene-centricity versus systems-level understanding in microbial evolution and coevolution.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of adaptive mutation mechanisms.
  • Discussion of horizontal gene transfer processes.
  • Application of general systems theory to coevolutionary dynamics.

Main Results:

  • Microbial adaptation, including to antibiotics, is not a random process but is directed and purposeful.
  • Evolution is oriented toward potential external changes, challenging purely random models.
  • Rejecting gene-centricity reveals higher-level organismal properties crucial for adaptation.

Conclusions:

  • Microbial evolution is inherently directed, enabling adaptation to rapid environmental shifts.
  • A systems-level perspective, moving beyond gene-centricity, is essential for understanding coevolution.
  • Human and pathogen coevolution is a controlled, system-level phenomenon, not merely a random genetic interplay.