Professor Terry Hwa
Physics & Biology
University of California at San Diego
San Diego, CA

Monday, October 18, 2010
1:00 pm (CT)
3269 Beckman Institute

Abstract

Quantitative studies of bacterial growth physiology revealed striking empirical correlations reflecting intrinsic constraints on the allocation of cellular resources, most notably ribosomes. These correlations, analogous to Ohm's law, led to the development of a simple theory of growth control, providing quantitative, parameter-free predictions of the effect of cell growth and gene expression on one another. A number of novel phenomena were predicted and validated in Escherichia coli, including a built-in feedback loop providing abrupt, bimodal response to antibiotic treatment.