Bacterial Growth in Stressed Environments

Ben-Jacob and coworkers point out a possible difference between the bacterial colonies and DLA.

The bacteria are themselves alive and can communicate with one another through chemotaxis.

In part, the complex growth patterns of bacteria in stressful conditions may be due to cooperation among the bacteria.

Fractal growth patterns may result from self-organization at many levels.

Recently, this self-organization of bacteria, expressed in fractal patterns, has led some to suggest bacteria are capable of parallel computation, or perhaps more.

This is a controversial view, currently under active investigation.

Return to bacteria growth in stressed environments.