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Evolving strategies for single-celled organisms in multi-nutrient environments

Chu, Dominique, Barnes, David J. (2015) Evolving strategies for single-celled organisms in multi-nutrient environments. In: Proceedings of the European Conference on Artificial Life 2015. . pp. 226-233. MIT Press (doi:10.7551/978-0-262-33027-5-ch046) (KAR id:51101)

Abstract

When micro-organisms are in environments with multiple nutrients, they often preferentially utilise one first. A second is only utilised once the first is exhausted. Such a two-phase growth pattern is known as diauxic growth. Experimentally, this manifests itself through two distinct exponential growth phases separated by a lag phase of arrested growth. The dura- tion of the lag phase can be quite substantial. From an evolu- tionary point of view the existence of a lag phase is somewhat puzzling because it implies a substantial loss of growth op- portunity. Mutants with shorter lag phases would be prone to outcompete those with longer phases. Yet in nature, diauxic growth with lag phases appears to be a robust phenomenon. We introduce a model of the evolution of diauxic growth that captures the basic interactions regulating it in bacteria. We observe its evolution without a lag phase. We conclude that the lag phase is an adaptation that is only beneficial when fit- ness is averaged over a large number of environments.

Item Type: Conference or workshop item (Paper)
DOI/Identification number: 10.7551/978-0-262-33027-5-ch046
Subjects: Q Science
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences > School of Computing
Depositing User: David Barnes
Date Deposited: 20 Oct 2015 10:58 UTC
Last Modified: 09 Dec 2022 05:30 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/51101 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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