Many bacteria initiate biofilm formation by building, either by motility, accretion or division, small aggregates referred as microcolonies. These microcolonies, comprised of anywhere between a few hundreds to a few thousands bacteria are in many respects the embryo of mature biofilm. 

Similarly to what has been discovered in multicellular eukaryotic organisms, intercellular and external mechanical forces play a crucial role in the physiology of these early biofilms.