Run and tumble behavior

"Run and tumble" is a movement pattern observed in bacteria such as E. coli to navigate their environment. During a "run," the bacterium moves straight by rotating its flagella in a coordinated manner. When it detects unfavorable conditions, it switches to a "tumble," where the flagella rotate randomly, causing it to reorient. This alternating process allows the bacterium to effectively explore its surroundings, moving toward favorable conditions or away from harmful ones. The behavior balances straight-line movement with random reorientation, enabling efficient chemotaxis in complex environments.