2) Biofilms and other multicellular behaviors a) Recall thatbacteria (and archaea) exhibit both transient and permanentmulticellularity. How does these behaviors benefit bacteria? Whatare the costs? b) What kinds of environmentts seem to favormulticellular behaviors? Recall our discussion in the lecture – twothat we discussed at length were mechanical antibiotic &chemical resistance and evasion of predators. c) Explain quorumsensing, especially the details we discussed with the Vibriofischerii example. d) Compare and contrast incipient vs patternedmulticellularity, and fit the examples of Bacillus subtillis,Myxococcus xanthus, and Streptomyces spp. into your explanation.How do these examples challenge our notions of the divide betweensingle-celled and multicellular organisms? e) What is themicrobiome? What are some of the implications for human health?
