Microbiologist Anna Oslizło discusses the social life of bacteria. #MetaPHoDcast

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ANNA OSLIZŁO is a biotechnologist, a microbiologist and a Junior Researcher at the Chair of Microbiology at the Department of Food Science, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana. Anna Oslizło insists that, contrary to widespread public perception, bacteria are social organisms able to engage in complicated forms of cooperative behaviour by communicating through chemicals. Her research explains why cheats don’t prevail over cooperating cells, while she leaves potential causes of different bacteria languages and dialects within the same species of bacteria to philosophy fans to ruminate over. She believes the lessons learned from chatty bacteria may find their way into communications study books at social sciences faculties in the next 50 years.

Author: LUKA AUSEC, holds a doctorate in biosciences and can fluently read DNA – and sometimes literature. Enthusiastic about bending the body and the mind in all directions – and sometimes inwards. Enjoys spreading inspiring ideas – sometimes as tweets.

Translated by: Urša Klinc.