You are cordially invited to UNAM Nanocolloquium seminars focusing on advancements in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. The seminars bring us the most recent developments in these exciting fields. Next week\u2019s talk will be presented by Dr. Murat Tu\u011frul (Humbolt-Universit\u00e4t zu Berlin).<\/p>\n
Nanocolloquium series<\/p>\n
Title: From Molecules to Populations: How Single-Cell Stochasticity Drives Population Heterogeneity in Bacteria<\/p>\n
Date: April 1, 2026 (Wednesday)
\nTime and Venue: 11:00 UNAM Conference Hall (SU-01)<\/p>\n
Abstract:
\nA central challenge in evolutionary biology is predicting how microscopic processes within a cell determine the macroscopic success of a population. While classical population genetics often treats cellular fitness as a scalar parameter, real biological populations are characterized by profound phenotypic heterogeneity, even among genetically identical individuals. In this talk, I will present a multiscale framework that links biophysical mechanisms directly to population-level outcomes and heterogeneity. First, I will show single-cell microscopy techniques that allow us to collect high-resolution data on physiological states, gene expression, and fitness components in bacteria. Integrating mathematical modeling with single-cell experiments, I will demonstrate how stochastic damage dynamics and asymmetric segregation reshape individual lifespans and emergent population growth. Second, I will focus on the complex regulatory systems controlling polygenic traits, specifically the flagellar network. I will show how the biophysical logic of genetic networks generates phenotypic bimodality, providing a strategic \u2018hedge\u2019 that might facilitate evolutionary survival. Finally, I will argue for a transition toward a mechanistic evolutionary theory where the physics of the cell dictates the logic of adaptation, offering new insights into global challenges such as antibiotic resistance.<\/p>\n
Short Bio:
\nDr. Murat Tu\u011frul is a biophysicist and theoretical evolutionary biologist studying how stochastic processes at the single-cell level give rise to population-level heterogeneity and evolution. He is currently a Research Fellow in the Molecular Microbiology Lab at Humboldt-Universit\u00e4t zu Berlin, where he combines mathematical modeling with single-cell data analysis to investigate the regulatory principles of bacterial flagellar systems. Previously, he led a Marie Sk\u0142odowska-Curie project at Freie Universit\u00e4t Berlin focused on bacterial aging and damage accumulation in single cells. He completed his PhD at IST Austria, developing biophysical and population genetic models of transcriptional evolution. His research integrates theory and experiment to build predictive, multiscale frameworks for understanding how cellular processes shape fitness and evolution in mic<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
You are cordially invited to UNAM Nanocolloquium seminars focusing on advancements in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. The seminars bring us the most recent developments in these exciting fields. Next week\u2019s talk will be presented by Dr. Murat Tu\u011frul (Humbolt-Universit\u00e4t zu Berlin). Nanocolloquium series Title: From Molecules to Populations: [\u2026] <\/p>\n