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Microbes Inherit Memories
Researchers discovered bacteria learn to evade antibiotics using memories from previous generations.
Believe it or not, but the concept of teeny-tiny microbes having some form of memory has become widely accepted, with plenty of research supporting it. Some studies even found that memory shapes microbial populations. Scientists haven’t understood how it works, but new research is beginning to change that.
Microbiologists recently found that E. coli bacteria use iron levels to store information. Further, the bacteria “remember” specific experiences for at least four generations, and the swarming behavior they engage in essentially conditions the bacteria with the memory.
Microbial Swarms
We may imagine microbes, like bacteria, as tiny single-celled organisms that mindlessly scurry around, doin’ their own thing. But in actuality, bacteria work together. Similar to how honeybees relocate their hives, bacteria collect into colonies called swarms that travel collectively in search of a permanent home. And, like for so many other life forms, there’s power in numbers.
Forming swarms helps bacteria increase their cell density, making them better able to withstand antibiotic exposure — something microbiologists like Souvik…
