Quorum Sensing Definition

kwôrəm
noun
A phenomenon in which a population of bacteria produces and responds to intercellular chemical signals whose concentration indicates the density of the population. When the density reaches a certain level, genes are expressed that allow for coordinated group behavior, as in bioluminescence or the formation of biofilms.
American Heritage

A proposed method of communication between bacterial cells by the release and sensing of small diffusible signal molecules.

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