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361 | Bonnie Bassler on How Bacteria Talk and Work Together
Published Jul 20, 2026 · 1h 16m
Bonnie Bassler explains how bacteria detect signals from their surroundings and coordinate behaviour through quorum sensing. Chemical communication allows microbes to sense nearby populations and undertake collective activities that individual cells could not accomplish alone. The discussion examines bacterial information processing and the consequences of these coordinated behaviours, including within the human body.
Hosted by Sean Carroll
Audio available
Sean Carroll
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