Bacteria chat, according to Professor Jose Onuchic, Center for Theoretical Biological Physics at Rice University, Texas, USA. As reported at the 243rd American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition in San Diego, CA, USA, bacteria make decisions based on those of their neighbors; for example, they might decide to form a spore (bacterial hibernation) in response to stress or they may instead toughen up and weather the storm. These decisions are influenced by chemical “tweets” sent out by bacteria as a form of communication, allowing a colony to act in an informed way.
Onuchic’s research is now expanding to look at how cancer cells communicate … could an analogous situation be responsible for cancer metastases?
- The full webcast can be viewed here:
Bacteria use chat to play the “Prisoner’s Dilemma” game in deciding their fate
Other news from the ACS Meeting:
- Popcorn Polyphenols
First red wine, now popcorn … discovery of polyphenols in popcorn presented at the 243rd ACS National Meeting, San Diego, CA, USA - Video: ACS Meeting San Diego: G. Huber on Biomass Conversion
George Huber, University of Massachusetts, discusses his latest research in converting biomass at the 243rd ACS National Meeting, San Diego, CA, USA - News: 2012 ACS National Awards
27 March 2012 – The 2012 ACS National Awards are presented at the 243rd ACS National Meeting, San Diego, CA, USA
- News: Two-Drug Combination for Treating Tuberculosis
Repurposing existing drugs provides new hope against TB according to research presented at the 243rd ACS National Meeting, San Diego, USA
