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SUMMARY:The effect of cellular crowding on evolution: a bacteria tale and 
 a phage tale - Diana Fusco (Cavendish Labratory\, University of Cambridge)
DTSTART:20230502T120000Z
DTEND:20230502T130000Z
UID:TALK199936@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Sarah Loos
DESCRIPTION:Cellular populations expanding in space often exhibit very cro
 wded environments\, where cells have to push onto each other to replicate\
 , leaving little space in between. In these conditions\, the spatial posit
 ion of an individual can be the major determinant of its evolutionary succ
 ess\, as pioneers living a the front of the expansion are much more likely
  to leave offspring in this favorable position. This phenomenon\, called a
 llele surfing\, has been shown to lead to counterintuitive effects\, such 
 as the accumulation of deleterious mutations and waste of potentially bene
 ficial mutants.\nHere\, I will present an experimental quantification of t
 he effect of crowding on the fate of neutral mutations in flat E. coli col
 onies\, which I will explain using simulations where cells behave similarl
 y to granular materials. I will then show how more complex biofilms\, whic
 h exhibit a three dimensional architecture\, are able to bypass the proble
 m and release mutants that are temporarily stuck in the core of the biofil
 m. Finally\, I will switch perspective\, put ourselves in the shoes of a v
 irus and show how\, by contrast\, viral evolution can strongly benefit fro
 m a crowded cellular environment.\n
LOCATION:Center for Mathematical Sciences\, Lecture room MR4
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