Microbial Communities - From Modelling to Understanding Ecological Organization

Explore the fascinating world of microbial communities in this one-hour lecture by Gabriela Olmedo-Alvarez from CINVESTAV. Delve into the complex organization of bacteria and their crucial role in Earth's biogeochemical cycles and human health. Discover how researchers from biology, physics, and mathematics collaborate to unravel the mysteries of species coexistence and community organization. Journey to Cuatro Cienegas, Mexico, an oasis with ancient marine water, to study early life conditions and bacterial diversity. Learn about genomic and bioinformatic tools used to quantify diversity and understand ecological processes. Examine various models and scales of community assembly, including the challenges of modeling higher-order interactions in synthetic communities. Cover topics such as the origins of life, evolution, DNA composition, public goods, community ecology, game theory, and the concept of microbial dark matter. Gain insights into the interdisciplinary approach needed to comprehend the intricate world of microorganisms and their impact on our understanding of life itself.