E. coli can congregate as long as their microbial tongues taste the amino acid serine. It just so happens that in the normal course of its metabolism, E. coli casts off serine in its waste.

Genes do not work in isolation. They work in circuits. Over the next few weeks, Jacob tried to

E. coli does not fall victim to false alarms, however, because it has extra loops in its genetic circuit.

In E. coli all energy transfers must use the same currency: ATP.

when the temperature is cool, E. coli is constantly reading the gene for sigma 32 and making RNA copies. But at normal temperatures the RNA folds in on itself, and so E. coli cannot use it to make a protein. At normal temperatures the microbe is loaded with sigma 32 RNA but no actual sigma 32 protein.

during a crisis E. coli’s mutation rates could soar a hundred-or even a thousandfold. Several studies identified E. coli’s lo-fi polymerases as the enzymes that created these extra mutations.

It creates an interlocking set of molecules that form a mesh that floats between the inner and outer membranes. The corset (known as the peptidoglycan layer) has the strength to withstand the force of the incoming water.

You may begin to imagine its genome as an instruction manual for an exquisite piece of nanotechnology crafted by some alien civilization.

To survive, E. coli work together. The bacteria communicate and cooperate. Billions of them join together to build microbial cities. They wage wars together against their enemies.