Quorum sensing and the confusion about diffusion.
Two hypotheses, termed quorum sensing (QS) and diffusion sensing (DS), have been suggested as competing explanations for why bacterial cells use the local concentration of small molecules to regulate numerous extracellular behaviours. Here, we show that: (i) although there are important differences...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2012
|
| _version_ | 1797072199487586304 |
|---|---|
| author | West, SA Winzer, K Gardner, A Diggle, S |
| author_facet | West, SA Winzer, K Gardner, A Diggle, S |
| author_sort | West, SA |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | Two hypotheses, termed quorum sensing (QS) and diffusion sensing (DS), have been suggested as competing explanations for why bacterial cells use the local concentration of small molecules to regulate numerous extracellular behaviours. Here, we show that: (i) although there are important differences between QS and DS, they are not diametrically opposed; (ii) empirical attempts to distinguish between QS and DS are misguided and will lead to confusion; (iii) the fundamental distinction is not between QS and DS, but whether or not the trait being examined is social; (iv) empirical data are consistent with both social interactions and a role of diffusion; (v) alternate hypotheses, such as efficiency sensing (ES), are not required to unite QS and DS. More generally, work in this area illustrates how the use of jargon can obscure the underlying concepts and key questions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-06T23:04:16Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:633e7040-39ab-4164-9579-fffaf0a2ace1 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-06T23:04:16Z |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:633e7040-39ab-4164-9579-fffaf0a2ace12022-03-26T18:11:35ZQuorum sensing and the confusion about diffusion.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:633e7040-39ab-4164-9579-fffaf0a2ace1EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2012West, SAWinzer, KGardner, ADiggle, STwo hypotheses, termed quorum sensing (QS) and diffusion sensing (DS), have been suggested as competing explanations for why bacterial cells use the local concentration of small molecules to regulate numerous extracellular behaviours. Here, we show that: (i) although there are important differences between QS and DS, they are not diametrically opposed; (ii) empirical attempts to distinguish between QS and DS are misguided and will lead to confusion; (iii) the fundamental distinction is not between QS and DS, but whether or not the trait being examined is social; (iv) empirical data are consistent with both social interactions and a role of diffusion; (v) alternate hypotheses, such as efficiency sensing (ES), are not required to unite QS and DS. More generally, work in this area illustrates how the use of jargon can obscure the underlying concepts and key questions. |
| spellingShingle | West, SA Winzer, K Gardner, A Diggle, S Quorum sensing and the confusion about diffusion. |
| title | Quorum sensing and the confusion about diffusion. |
| title_full | Quorum sensing and the confusion about diffusion. |
| title_fullStr | Quorum sensing and the confusion about diffusion. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quorum sensing and the confusion about diffusion. |
| title_short | Quorum sensing and the confusion about diffusion. |
| title_sort | quorum sensing and the confusion about diffusion |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT westsa quorumsensingandtheconfusionaboutdiffusion AT winzerk quorumsensingandtheconfusionaboutdiffusion AT gardnera quorumsensingandtheconfusionaboutdiffusion AT diggles quorumsensingandtheconfusionaboutdiffusion |