Why is quorum sensing advantageous to bacteria when they are forming a biofilm?
A) Larger numbers of bacteria reduce the competition between the bacteria for resources.
B) Bacteria must produce components of a biofilm. It is a waste of energy if they produce those components when there are not enough bacteria present to produce a biofilm resistant to physical forces.
C) Enough weak bacteria need to be present so that they can be killed and used as nutrients for the strong bacteria.
D) It is easier for proper bacterial mating types to contact each other and sexually reproduce when there are larger numbers of bacteria present.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Quorum sensing allows bacteria to determine when there are enough cells present to efficiently produce the components of a biofilm. If only a few cells were present, energy would be wasted producing biofilm components that would not be strong enough to resist physical forces. By communicating with each other and waiting until a certain threshold of cells is reached, the bacteria can produce a more effective biofilm.

Why Is Quorum Sensing Advantageous to Bacteria When They Are