Microbes and the Games They Play

Kalliopi Kastampolidou; Theodore Andronikos

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-78787-5_32

Microbes and the Games They Play

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2021:1339:265-271. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-78787-5_32.

Authors

Kalliopi Kastampolidou¹, Theodore Andronikos²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Informatics, Ionian University, Corfu, Greece. p12kast@ionio.gr.
² Department of Informatics, Ionian University, Corfu, Greece. andronikos@ionio.gr.

PMID: 35023114
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-78787-5_32

Abstract

Game theory is a fundamental field with applications in numerous other areas, including biology. A relatively recent, but already boasting extensive and increasing influence and important results, branch of classical Game Theory is Evolutionary Game Theory. Evolutionary Game Theory focuses on populations and microorganisms, like bacteria, and studies their interactions when these are viewed as games. This work aims to be a comprehensive presentation of the games microbes, and specifically bacteria, play during their lifetime. It is hoped that this perspective can enhance one's understanding of the biology of the microcosm and open new avenues for relative research.

Keywords: Bacteria; Evolutionary game theory; Game theory; Hawk vs Dove; Microbes; Prisone’s Dilemma; Rock-paper-scissor.

MeSH terms

Biological Evolution*
Game Theory*