title: Why are rod-shaped bacteria rod shaped?
abstract: Generally speaking, bacteria grow and divide indefinitely, and as long as the growth conditions are maintained they retain constant dimensions and shapes with little variation. How they do this is a question that I have been considering for three decades. Here, I discuss two hypothetical mechanisms, one for Gram-positive rods and the other for Gram-negative rods. These mechanisms are consistent with what is known, but make some unproven assumptions.
authors.affiliation: Biology Dept, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405-6801, USA. koch@indiana.edu
authors.forename: Arthur L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Koch
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D016946:Gram-Negative Aerobic Rods and Cocci / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016987:Gram-Positive Rods / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular