Fig. 2: Bistable GRN and decision-making at high and low gene densities.

a Illustration for the expected output of P_R and P_RM activity as a function of temperature, based on the known molecular feedbacks of the GRN. b Dynamics of GFP expression reporting on the P_R activity at high DNA density (upper panel). Solid lines depict average dynamics, N = 24. (1), (2), and (3) relate to molecular states of the bistable GRN at each temperature, as in panel a. Steady-state GFP levels averaged over individual compartments (lower panel). Temperature was either kept constant throughout the measurement (open circle) or after a 40 °C initial incubation step (closed circle). Error bars show the mean and standard deviation (SD) of compartments. Red line drawn to guide the eye. c Number of CI^ts-mVenus produced in 15 s to give production rates (left column) and ensemble distribution over time t and compartments N after >20 min (right column) in the low-density regime. Circle with error bars give the median and 32th to 68th percentile of the ensemble production rates (N = 1044, 696, 1044, 2088, 1044 in the order of increasing temperature). Source data are provided as a Source data file.