Cable Bacteria Get Energy Through Electrical Teamwork

Abstract

Cable bacteria are very different from most other bacteria. First of all, they are multicellular, and each cable bacterium has tens of thousands of cells connected in a chain called a filament that can be several centimeters long. What makes cable bacteria really special is the way they get the energy they need for living: the cells within a filament have to work together to generate energy, and this involves electricity! In this article, we will describe these fascinating bacteria and tell you about recent research that shows how the cells within a filament work together.