The Documentary Podcast The social lives of bacteria
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Sep 18, 2025 In this discussion, Professor Bonnie Bassler, a leading microbiologist from Princeton specializing in bacterial communication, dives into the captivating world of bacterial social lives. She explains how bacteria display complex behaviors akin to human dramas, including cooperation, competition, and even deceit. These interactions can influence health and disease, offering insights vital for developing new medicines and environmental solutions. Explore the intriguing dynamics of microbial communities that can be both helpful and harmful.
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Chemical Conversation And Quorum Sensing
- Bacteria communicate chemically and coordinate group actions through quorum sensing.
- They change behaviours based on who surrounds them, distinguishing kin, non-kin, friends, and foes.
Division Of Labour In Biofilms
- Mixed-species biofilms divide metabolic labour so communities flourish together.
- Different bacteria perform distinct tasks, creating an organised, interdependent ecosystem on surfaces like teeth.
Cheaters Lurk In Cooperative Groups
- Within cooperative populations some individuals become cheaters who stop contributing yet still benefit.
- Cheating dynamics influence the stability and outcome of bacterial collective behaviours.