How can some bacteria sense the density of cells in an environment?
A) Detecting the concentration of a signaling molecule.
B) Quantifying the accumulation of waste products.
C) Measuring the depletion of oxygen in the environment.
D) Sensing the depletion of water in the environment.
E) Detecting the accumulation of endospores.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Some bacteria use a process called quorum sensing to sense the density of cells in their environment. Quorum sensing involves the production and detection of small molecules called autoinducers that accumulate in the environment as the bacterial population grows. Once a threshold concentration of the autoinducer is reached, the bacteria respond with coordinated changes in gene expression, leading to changes in behavior such as biofilm formation or virulence.

How Can Some Bacteria Sense the Density of Cells in an Environment