Summary
A key question in biology is how genetically identical cells achieve varied appearances and behaviors. These distinct cell states are realized by variations in gene expression within certain cells in the population; different genes are turned “on” or “off” in these cells. These variations in gene expression can lead to different phenotypes within a population of genetically identical cells. For example, variations in gene expression can lead some cells in a population of genetically identical bacteria to become antibiotic tolerant while other cells in the population remain suspectable to antib
