Bacteria are ‘big thinkers’

Scientists at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville have found that bacteria are “big thinkers” and more capable of complex decision-making than previously thought, a discovery that could lead to innovations in medicine and agriculture fields.Until now, scientists have been unable to study how bacteria’s individual receptors directly affect their behaviour and ability to adapt to the environment.


Gladys Alexandre and her team looked at the functioning of complex soil bacterium Azospirillum brasilense’s receptors. And they came to the conclusion that with the help of the amino acids in the sensory part of the receptor, bacteria can feel about the environment around them.