Population genetics in microchannels

Spatial constraints such as rigid barriers affect the dynamics of cell populations, potentially altering the course of natural evolution. In this paper, we investigate the population genetics of Escherichia coli proliferating in microchannels with open ends. Our analysis is based on a population mod...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:arXiv.org 2022-03
Main Authors: Koldaeva, Anzhelika, Hsieh-Fu, Tsai, Shen, Amy Q, Pigolotti, Simone
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Competition
E coli
Fixation
Genetics
Mathematical models
Microchannels
Mutation
Population genetics
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Spatial constraints such as rigid barriers affect the dynamics of cell populations, potentially altering the course of natural evolution. In this paper, we investigate the population genetics of Escherichia coli proliferating in microchannels with open ends. Our analysis is based on a population model in which reproducing cells shift entire lanes of cells towards the open ends of the channel. The model predicts that diversity is lost very rapidly within lanes, but at a much slower pace among lanes. As a consequence, two mixed, neutral E. coli strains competing in a microchannel must organize into an ordered regular stripe pattern in the course of a few generations. These predictions are in quantitative agreement with our experiments. We also demonstrate that random mutations appearing in the middle of the channel are much more likely to reach fixation than those occurring elsewhere. Our results illustrate fundamental mechanisms of microbial evolution in spatially confined space.
ISSN:2331-8422
DOI:10.48550/arxiv.2104.04161