Unexplainable 12 tiny worlds
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Jul 30, 2025 
Richard Lenski and Zachary Blount, evolutionary biologists from Michigan State University, dive into the captivating world of bacterial evolution. They discuss their groundbreaking experiment creating 12 parallel universes of E. coli to observe unexpected evolutionary adaptations. Surprising convergences in traits challenge conventional notions of predictability in evolution. They also reveal a fascinating case of E. coli acquiring the rare ability to metabolize citrate, highlighting how randomness and historical events significantly shape evolutionary paths.
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Lenski's Shift to E. coli
- Richard Lenski shifted from studying beetles to bacteria for clearer evolutionary observations.
- He chose E. coli because they reproduce fast and are easy to work with in the lab.
12 Parallel E. coli Universes
- Identical E. coli populations evolved divergently due to random mutations in each flask.
- This mimics 12 parallel evolutionary universes, showing evolution's randomness and reproducibility.
Evolution's Repeatability in E. coli
- Different E. coli populations mostly evolved similar improvements, favoring fast glucose uptake and growth.
- Evolution showed strong repeatability despite some genetic differences among populations.
