  Segregation of populations is a key question in evolution theory. One
important aspect is the relation between spatial organization and the
population's composition. Here we study a specific example -- sectors in
expanding bacterial colonies. Such sectors are spatially segregated
sub-populations of mutants. The sectors can be seen both in disk-shaped
colonies and in branching colonies. We study the sectors using two models we
have used in the past to study bacterial colonies -- a continuous
reaction-diffusion model with non-linear diffusion and a discrete
``Communicating Walkers'' model. We find that in expanding colonies, and
especially in branching colonies, segregation processes are more likely than in
a spatially static population. One such process is the establishment of stable
sub- population having neutral mutation. Another example is the maintenance of
wild-type population along side with sub-population of advantageous mutants.
Understanding such processes in bacterial colonies is an important subject by
itself, as well as a model system for similar processes in other spreading
populations.
