Investigating the cost-benefit relationship of the heterogeneous lag phase duration in yeast

Microbes are continuously challenged by changing environmental conditions, such as variations in nutrients or stress factors. Appropriate adaptation to such novel situations is critical for microbial survival. The molecular mechanisms of adaptation and more specifically gene regulation in response to these novel conditions have been studied in great detail. However, two very fundamental aspects of adaptation remain unresolved so far. First, how fast should the organism respond? Counter-intuitively, recent data suggest that faster responses are not always better. Second, is it advantageous for large populations of microorganisms to have individual cells respond differently? In the present project we will combine empirical work with yeast and mathematical modeling to address these questions and unravel how organisms tune the speed and heterogeneity of adaptation in the face of fluctuating carbon supplies.