P. J. Yunker

The biophysical basis of bacterial colony growth

This study shows that the horizontal expansion rate of bacterial colonies is controlled by the contact angle at the biofilm edge, validated through experimental measurements and theoretical modeling.

Examining the role of oxygen-binding proteins on the early evolution of multicellularity

This study shows oxygen-binding proteins enhance fitness in larger organisms under high oxygen conditions by improving oxygen diffusion efficiency.

Spatial constraints subvert microbial arms race

This paper shows that community size affects bacterial competition outcomes, with slow-killing strains performing better in small spaces when rare and better in large spaces when common.

Entanglement in living systems

This study shows that growth in living systems facilitates entanglement across a broad range of geometries, unlike non-living materials where entanglement is geometry-sensitive.

Emergence and maintenance of stable coexistence during a long-term multicellular evolution experiment

This study shows how multicellularity evolves through niche partitioning and adaptive divergence in snowflake yeast, leading to stable coexistence via a trade-off between size and competitiveness for oxygen.

Vertical growth dynamics of biofilms

The paper measures biofilm height dynamics with high precision and shows that interface-based models better capture growth than logistic or nutrient depletion models.

Evolution of a cis-acting SNP that controls Type VI Secretion in Vibrio cholerae

This study identifies a cis-acting SNP in Vibrio cholerae that controls Type VI Secretion System activity, switching between constitutive and inducible states based on environmental cues.

De novo evolution of macroscopic multicellularity

This study shows how snowflake yeast evolved macroscopic multicellularity under anaerobic conditions through biophysical adaptations, while remaining microscopic under low oxygen conditions.

Cellular organization in lab-evolved and extant multicellular species obeys a maximum entropy law

The paper quantifies cell packing in two multicellular organisms and finds that free space around cells follows a gamma distribution, suggesting an entropic principle underlying multicellular organization.

Spontaneous emergence of multicellular heritability

This study shows that multicellular heritability can emerge without additional genetic regulation, and that organism size at reproduction is more heritable than its cell-level basis.

A new contact killing toxin permeabilizes cells and belongs to a large protein family

This paper identifies TpeV, a novel T6SS toxin from V. cholerae that permeabilizes cells and belongs to a widespread protein family.

Glucose promotes resistance of human commensal Escherichia coli against contact-killing by pandemic Vibrio cholerae

This study shows glucose enhances E. coli resistance to T6SS attacks from V. cholerae through CRP-mediated metabolic changes, independent of immunity proteins.

Accumulation of dead cells from contact killing facilitates coexistence in bacterial biofilms

The paper shows that dead cell debris from T6SS-mediated killing limits contact between bacterial strains, preventing population elimination and enabling coexistence.

Topological constraints in early multicellularity favor reproductive division of labor

This study shows reproductive specialization evolves in sparse cellular networks despite saturating returns, highlighting the role of restricted interactions in early multicellularity.

Ecological advantages and evolutionary limitations of aggregative multicellular development

This study compares clonal and aggregative multicellular development in yeast, finding aggregation provides ecological advantages but is exploited by clonal cells in competition.