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.

Wiktionary