In this video, Bonnie Bassler from Princeton explains how bacteria can talk to each other using a chemical language, termed “quorum sensing”. Bacteria is able to initiate a synchronized behaviour based on their generic function, once they sense that their numbers are sufficient.
Every type of bacteria can make and secrete small molecules. When a bacterium is alone, these molecules simply float about. However when there’s a large quantity of bacteria, these secreted molecules increase in proportion to the number of bacteria emitting them. When the molecules reach a certain amount, the bacteria is aware of the number of neighbors it has, and suddenly everyone turns on a synchronized behaviour, based on their genetic function.
However, there’s more! Bacteria are actually “multi-lingual”! They can talk and find out the presence and strength of other bacteria species.
Chapter: Home and Living :: 18 May 2009
