Few days back, Nature reported that Bacteria can control their Temperature!
Most organisms, from bacteria to humans, can follow temperature gradients to an optimal temperature. Experience influences eukaryotes' preferred temperature, and, as it turns out, bacteria also adjust their temperature preference depending on growth conditions.
A study from Salman and Libchaber finally provides a physiological reason for this altered behaviour — it may help bacteria to conserve energy until better nutrient supplies become available. When Salman and Libchaber tested the thermotactic responses in E. coli at different growth stages, they observed a surprisingly sharp switch from a thermophilic to a cryophilic response as soon as the cell density crossed a critical threshold.
(Source: Victor Sourjik and Ned S. Wingreen. Turning to the cold. nature cell biology, volume 9, number9, Sept 2007)
In case you don't have access to Nature, you can send me a request for a reprint. I have a copy with me.
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