Channel: National Science Foundation

Category: Science & Technology

Tags: nsfbacterial transformationspongebacterial contaminationbacteriabacterial transformatonpandemickitchen spongepetribacterialincubatorbacteria microbiologykitchendirtybiodiversitybiologynatureduke universitydishespetri dishcleanbacterial infectionwaterbiomedicalnational science foundationmicrobeschemicallaboratorydishincubationsoap

Description: A kitchen sponge is a better incubator for diverse bacterial communities than a laboratory petri dish. But it's not just the trapped leftovers that make the cornucopia of microbes swarming around so happy and productive, it's the structure of the sponge itself. In a series of experiments, researchers from Duke University showed that various microbial species can affect one another's population dynamics depending on structural environment factors such as complexity and size. Some bacteria thrive in a diverse community while others prefer a solitary existence. And a physical environment that allows both to live their best lives leads to the strongest levels of biodiversity.