Becoming Invisible in the Ocean: The Story of a Hawaiian Squid

Explore the fascinating world of symbiotic relationships between animals and bacteria in this lecture by Margaret McFall-Ngai, Professor and Director of the Pacific Biosciences Research Center at the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa. Discover how the Hawaiian bobtail squid and its bioluminescent bacterial partner serve as a model for understanding how animals select and maintain beneficial relationships with thousands of bacterial species. Learn about the paradigm shift in biology that has led to a new understanding of bacteria as essential partners in animal health rather than mere pathogens. Gain insights into the complex "diplomatic relations" between animals and their microbial organisms, and how these interactions have evolved over time. This one-hour talk, part of the Evolution Matters Lecture Series, offers a captivating look at the invisible world of animal-bacterial symbiosis in the ocean.