Twist of growing bacterial colonies

Twist observed in growing bacterial colonies at the macrolevel is explained in terms of the self-assembly (self-organization) of film-forming protein clusters, since the in vitro and in vivo behavior and symmetry properties of protein in an open thermodynamically nonequilibrium system are identical. The self-assembly of elastic protein films in the course of condensation in the protein-water system obeys the laws of the elasticity theory. As the viscosity of the system grows, the transition of the protein from the liquid-crystal to the solid phase occurs. This transition has a nonlinear dynamics, which also shows up at the macrolevel. Opposite vorticities (twist) appear in the system. Such a modification of protein has been named protos. It is hypothesized that the formation of an elastic nonequilibrium protos film is consistent with the behavior and orientation of elastic forces and magnetic fields in the presence of unlike electric charges.