Date/Time
Date(s) - 11/03/2020
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Title: Cell-size control and inheritance dynamics in bacteria 

Description: Genetically identical cells exhibit large heterogeneity in theircharacteristics (such as size and protein content) even when experiencinghomogenous environmental conditions. The evolution of this heterogeneity islimited in part by the inheritance of cellular traits from one generation tothe next. In addition, this heterogeneity is controlled by molecular mechanismsto prevent the divergence of cellular properties over time. In this talk, Iwill introduce a new experimental technique for measuring how the heterogeneityin bacterial cell size develops over time, and discuss a possible mechanism thatallows bacteria to control it. Our results show thatthe inheritance dynamics exhibit long-term memory up to ~10 generations thatrestricts the variation of cell size, and reveal a feedback mechanism that acts to limit theheterogeneity acquired during cell division as a result of cellular noise. 

Speaker: Dr. Hanna Salman

Institution: University of Pittsburgh

Location: ABB-102

Website: https://www.physicsandastronomy.pitt.edu/people/hanna-salman

Host: Cecile Fradin