The social lives of bacteria
The microscopic dramas and rich social lives of bacterial loners, crowd-lovers, backstabbers and do-gooders fighting it out in our environment and inside our bodies.
Our bodies are filled with bacteria that have rich social lives and, just like people, these microbial neighbours and families do not always get along. In some cases, it is the bacterial equivalent of The Sopranos.
Dr Sally Le Page delves into the bacterial dramas of loners, crowd-lovers, backstabbers and do-gooders that are fighting it out in the world and inside our bodies. Co-operation, cheating and selfish behaviour can all lead to benefits or disease so scientists are studying this behaviour to help produce new medicines and clean up our environment.
Presenter: Dr Sally Le Page
Producer: Sue Nelson
A Boffin Media production for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ World Service
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Broadcasts
- Thu 18 Sep 2025 01:32GMTÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ World Service
- Thu 18 Sep 2025 08:32GMTÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ World Service
- Thu 18 Sep 2025 19:06GMTÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Sat 20 Sep 2025 16:32GMTÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ World Service News Internet
- Sat 20 Sep 2025 23:32GMTÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ World Service except Americas and the Caribbean, East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Sun 21 Sep 2025 04:32GMTÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ World Service except Australasia & East and Southern Africa & Live News
- Sun 21 Sep 2025 13:06GMTÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ World Service News Internet
- Sun 21 Sep 2025 22:32GMTÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only