Phenotypic variability of bacterial cell cycle: Mathematical model

Modeling results demonstrating mechanisms of different cell phenotypes appearance in a genetically homogenous population using the bacterial cell cycle model are presented. It was demonstrated that phenotypic variability represents an internal, immanent property of bacteria. The basis of this phenomenon is universal non-linear properties of the conjugated transcription-translation system that controls all cellular processes. Phenotypic variability occurs in a simple, deterministic, self-reproducing system under the uniform transmission of the structural components to the daughter cells during division and in the absence of any special control mechanisms of molecular-genetic processes and enzymatic reactions.