#2 THE BUG – Escherichia coli
The most thoroughly studied model organism is bacteriophage T4’s prey, Escherichia coli. The rod-shaped bacterium lives in the lower intestines of mammals—including ours—and birds. It is mostly a ‘friendly’ guest, reproducing to the tune of approximately 20 billion cells each day, with only a few varieties able to cause food poisoning. Studies of this humble bacterium have provided insight into the inner workings of cells, from how DNA codes for proteins to how cells make copies of themselves.
