I find it interesting to observe groups of cells on plates as they age and even dry out. The left side has a flo1 null and the right has a flo11 null. Both genes code for different surface structures in yeast. Love my proks but glad for a career that fosters life long boundary expansion.

Time deepens the mystery.

Yeast cell-cell interactions intrigue me. I am exploring S. cerevisiae & S. pastorianus from ale & lager. I am curious about flocculation in yeasts that overwinter in the guts of social insects. My goal? Teach students the art of close looking. Leave colonies alone & see what wild things unfold.

These books are among my all-time favorites. Functional morphology- how physics influences life’s structures at every scale: curves, shapes & sizes, motility, energetics; structures that support escape or staying put & surviving. Great reading for curious minds!

S. cerevisiae on the left (an ale variety) and S. pastorianus right (a lager variety). The “donut” appears in lager cultures after sitting on the bench a few days. Flocs are smaller for lager strains. I wonder why the clearing in the middle?

Felt bold and victorious conquering infrastructure when I changed my whole house filter until I saw the basement of my science center. So. Many. Pipes. All the levers…