News Microbes

Random changes in behavior speed bacteria evolution

Computer modeling of how microbes mutate could provide clues to battling antibiotic resistance

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

PLAYING DEFENSE  Random shifts in behavior could help disease-causing microbes like the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, pictured above, evolve antibiotic-resistance, a new study suggests. 

James Archer/CDC

By Chris Samoray

- More than 2 years ago

Random changes in microbes’ behavior can speed up evolution, a new study shows.

These shifts — called phenotype switches — can promote genetic mutations that help microbes better survive their environment, researchers report online January 19 at BioRxiv.org.