Bacteria Are More Capable of Complex Decision-Making Than Thought
January 20, 2010

It’s not thinking in the way humans, dogs or even birds think, but new findings from researchers at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, show that bacteria are more capable of complex decision-making than previously known.
The discovery sets a landmark in research to understand the way bacteria are able to respond and adapt to changes in their environment, a trait shared by nearly all living things, and it could lead to innovations in fields from medicine to agriculture.
In the long-term, the researchers think that scientists will be able to take the findings, published in theProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and use them to tailor medicines in new ways to fight harmful bacteria or to find enhanced ways to use bacteria in agricultural or other applications.
Biology typically looks at the common bacteria Escherichia coli as the model for bacteria’s ability to move actively and independently, but Gladys Alexandre, an associate professor of biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology at UT Knoxville, decided to look at the more complex soil bacterium,Azospirillum brasilense.
“As bacteria’s ability to make decisions goes, E. coli is kind of dumb, which makes it easy for researchers to study sensing and information processing — essentially, decision making — in this bacterium,” says Alexandre.
It helps to understand the way that bacteria “think.” Their cells contain a number of receptors, and each one affects a certain behavior or trait in the bacteria, for example where to move, how to function, even whether to become virulent. The advent of genetic sequencing means we know more about how many receptors bacteria have, and the more receptors, the more ways a bacterium has to sense its surroundings.
E. coli has only five receptors that direct its decision-making process about movement, while Azospirillum brasilense has 48, making it comparatively much “smarter” in its ability to detect changes in its environments and as a result, to make complex decisions regarding where to move.
What scientists have not known and have been unable to study until now is how the individual receptors, by sensing their environment, directly affect the bacteria’s behavior and ability to adapt to their environment. Alexandre’s study is one of the first to isolate and study a receptor in this way.
She and her colleagues focused on a receptor they suspected was related to the way bacteria convert nitrogen gas from the atmosphere into a form — ammonium — that can be used by all organisms. This ability is called nitrogen fixation and while it is uniquely found in bacteria, it is critically important to all living organisms, as it is the only way nitrogen can eventually be incorporated into building blocks of cells.
The process is carried out by an enzyme which is damaged in the presence of high concentrations of oxygen, which presents a dilemma for the bacterium, as the energy needed for the process is usually acquired in the presence of oxygen.
When Alexandre and her team created mutant versions of the bacteria without the receptor, the mutant bacteria were unable to detect where the right position in oxygen concentration was, affecting the nitrogen fixation reaction. In other words, the mutant bacteria were somewhat “blind” and could not detect the right position, showing them their hunch was correct about the receptor’s purpose. But their curiosity expanded: if they were able to uncover the receptor’s purpose, would they be able to out exactly how it functioned?
For that, they enlisted the help of UT-Oak Ridge National Laboratory distinguished scientist Igor Jouline, an expert in carrying out complex computations of biological systems, such as the one governing the receptor at the heart of Alexandre’s research. Working with Alexandre’s data, Jouline was able to generate a model of the receptor’s structure and compare it to other structures on a nearly atom-by-atom basis.
This enabled them to predict which one of the more than 100 amino acids in the sensory part of the receptor is responsible for sensing the precise oxygen concentration that this bacterium needs for nitrogen fixation. It’s a process that, using normal genetic techniques, would have taken a substantial commitment of hours and resources, but was made simpler and less labor-intensive by using computing.
Alexandre hopes that other scientists and researchers can use a similar technique to look at receptor sites on other bacteria of interest. She noted that the ability to work with Jouline and with the resources available through UT Knoxville’s partnership with ORNL was key to her discovery.
“Partnering with Igor provided us great insight,” said Alexandre. “We would not have been able to fully understand how this receptor works without him.”
Alexandre says there’s good long-term potential for the knowledge gained in the study.
“We see now that bacteria are, in their way, big thinkers, and by knowing how they ‘feel’ about the environment around them, we can look at new and different ways to work with them.”


1.University of Tennessee, Knoxville, show that bacteria are more capable of complex decision-making than previously known.
2. Scientists created mutant versions of the bacteria without the receptor.
3. The mutant bacteria were somewhat “blind” and could not detect the right position.
4.The scientists hopes that other scientists and researchers can use a similar technique to look at receptor sites on other bacteria of interest.
5.The process is carried out by an enzyme which is damaged in the presence of high concentrations of oxygen, which presents a dilemma for the bacterium, as the energy needed for the process is usually acquired in the presence of oxygen.
1)bacteria are more capable of complex decision.
2)Bacteria cells contain a number of receptors.
3)E. coli has only five receptors that direct its decision making process about movement.
4)mutant bacteria is blind and can not detect the right position.
5)Alexandre says there’s good long-term potential for the knowledge gained in the study.
Article Summary for January 25, 2010
1. Mutant bacteria is blind and can not detect the right position.
2. Scientists created mutant versions of the bacteria without the receptor.
3. Bacteria is more capable of complex decision.
4. The mutant bacteria was almost blind and could dont detect the correct position.
5.Bacteria cells contain a number of receptors.
Andrew Rice JAN 20 5TH PER
1.bactirea can make decisions
2.bacteria is smarter than humans
3.it is also smarter than animals
4.a name of bactirea is eschiria coli
5.it also adapts to its inviroment
1.Biology typically looks at the common bacteria Escherichia coli as the model for bacteria’s ability to move actively and independently.
2.University of Tennessee, Knoxville, show that bacteria are more capable of complex decision-making than previously known.
3.The scientists hopes that other scientists and researchers can use a similar technique to look at receptor sites on other bacteria of interest.
4.Alexandre says there’s good long-term potential for the knowledge gained in the study.
5.This enabled them to predict which one of the more than 100 amino acids in the sensory part of the receptor is responsible for sensing the precise oxygen concentration that this bacterium needs for nitrogen fixation.
1. Scientists created mutant versions of the bacteria without the receptor.
2.mutant bacteria is blind and can not detect the right position.
3.E. coli has only five receptors that direct its decision making process about movement.
4.University of Tennessee, Knoxville, show that bacteria are more capable of complex decision-making than previously known.
5.Alexandre hopes that other scientists and researchers can use a similar technique to look at receptor sites on other bacteria of interest.
1.) mutant bacteria is blind and can not detect the right position.
2.) Bacteria cells contain a number of receptors.
3.) Bacteria are more capable of complex decision.
4.) scientists created mutant versions of the bacteria without the receptor.
5.) 100 amino acid in the sensory part of the receptor is responsible for sensing the precise oxygen concentration that this bacterium needs for nitrogen fixation.
1)cells contains a number of receptors.
2)E Coli has five receptors that direct its desion making process about movement
3)Mutant bacteria is blind.
4)Since mutant bacteria is blind it cannot dtect the right position.
5)Bacteria are more capeable of complex decision.
1.) University of Tennessee, Knoxville, show that bacteria are more capable of complex- decision
2.) Researchers think that scientists will be able to take the findings, Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy
3.) The process is carried by enzyme which is damage of oxygen
4.) Their cells contain a number of receptors
5.) scientists yet to discover the affect of the bacteria
1.Researchers at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, show that bacteria are more capable of complex decision-making than previously known.
2. It’s not thinking in the way humans, dogs or even birds think, but new findings from researchers at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, show that bacteria are more capable of complex decision-making than previously known.
3. In the long-term, the researchers think that scientists will be able to take the findings, published in theProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and use them to tailor medicines in new ways to fight harmful bacteria or to find enhanced ways to use bacteria in agricultural or other applications.
4. Biology typically looks at the common bacteria Escherichia coli as the model for bacteria’s ability to move actively and independently, but Gladys Alexandre, an associate professor of biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology at UT Knoxville, decided to look at the more complex soil bacterium,Azospirillum brasilense.
5. “As bacteria’s ability to make decisions goes, E. coli is kind of dumb, which makes it easy for researchers to study sensing and information processing — essentially, decision making — in this bacterium,” says Alexandre.
Article Summary:
1.The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has found that bacteria are more capable of complex decision-making than previously known.
2.The discovery sets a landmark in research to understand the way bacteria are able to respond and adapt to changes in their environment.
3.This was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
4.Gladys Alexandre is an associate professor of biochemistry.
5.Alexandre hopes that other scientists and researchers can use a similar technique to look at receptor sites on other bacteria of interest.
Scientists discovered that bacteria are more capible of more complex decision making than before.
They also discovered that bacteria can adaped to there envirnment like we do
Scientists have found a way to use bacteria for agroculture
A mutant bacteria was created but almost blind
bacteria can feel the envirment around them
1)Bacteria has been newly found to make more complicated decisions than even humans.
2)Bacteria are able to respond to changes in their enviroment or stimulus.
3)Speacial bacteria can be turned into medicine to fight other bacteria.
4)Scientist think it’s helpful to know the way bacteria thinks.
5)Bacteria’s cells contain a multiple number of receptors.
1)Bacteria has been newly found to make more complicated decisions than even humans.
2)Bacteria are able to respond to changes in their enviroment or stimulus.
3)Speacial bacteria can be turned into medicine to fight other bacteria.
4)Scientist think it’s helpful to know the way bacteria think.
5)Bacteria’s cells contain a multiple number of receptors..
1)Bacteria has been newly found to make more complicated decisions than even humans.
2)Bacteria are able to respond to changes in their enviroment or stimulus.
3)Speacial bacteria can be turned into medicine to fight other bacteria.
4)Scientist think it’s helpful to know the way bacteria think..
5)Bacteria’s cells contain a multiple number of receptors.
1. Bacteria are more capable of complex decision-making than previously known.
2. Bacteria cells contain a number of receptors, and each one affects a certain behavior or trait in the bacteria.
3. The advent of genetic sequencing means we know more about how many receptors bacteria have, and the more receptors, the more ways a bacterium has to sense its surroundings.
4. Bacteria Are More Capable of Complex Decision-Making Than Thought.
5. E. coli has only five receptors that direct its decision-making process about movement.
~ Bacteria are more capable of complex decision-making than known before
~ The discovery sets a landmark in research to understand the way bacteria are able to respond to changes in their environment
~ It could lead to innovations in fields from medicine to agriculture
~ As bacteria’s ability to make decisions goes, E. coli is not as smart, making it easy for researchers to study sensing and information processing in it
~ What scientists have not known until now is how the individual receptors, by sensing their environment, directly affect the bacteria’s behavior, and ability to adapt to their environment
1)Bacteria are more capable of complex decision.
2)Bacteria cells contain a number of receptors.
3)E. COLI has only five receptors that direct its decision making process about movement.
4)mutant bacteria can blind and can not detect the right position.
5)Alexandre says there’s good long-term potential for the knowledge gained in the study.
1. bacteria are more capable of complex decision than known before.
2.it sets a landmark in research to understand the way bacteria adapt to their environment.
3.their cells contain a number of recepters.
4.Without their recepters the bacteria is basically blind.
5.the receptor is responsible for sensing the precise oxygen concentration for nitrogen fixation.
1.Researchers at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, have discovered that bacteria is more capable of complex decision but not the way we do.
2.Bacteria cells contain receptors, and each one can change things like how to move.
3. The bacteria that has only 5 receptors is called short as e.coli.
4. E. coli directs its decision-making process about movement.
5.The mutant bacteria were somewhat “blind” and could not detect the right position.
1. Bacteria are more capable of complex desicion than we know.
2. Azospirillum brasilense is “smarter” than E. coli in its ability to detect changes in their environment because of the number of receptors they have.
3. The more receptors, the more ways a bacterium has to sense its surroundings.
4. Scientists created mutant versions of the bacteria without the receptor.
5. Nitrogen fixation is uniquely found in bacteria, and it is important to all living organisms because it is the only way nitrogen can be incorporated into building blocks of cells.
Bacteria are more Cabaple of complex decision making.
This discovery sets a landmark.
E.Coli has a number of receptors.
E.coli has five receptors for decision making movements
Mutant bacteria is some what way blind
1.mutannt bacteria is blind and can not see.
2. scientist where not able to see individual receptors till now.
3.The process is carried out by an enzyme which is damaged in the presence of high concentrations of oxygen.
4.Alexander says there’s good long-term potential for the knowledge gained in the study.
1.Scientists will change medicen
2.Scientists pubolished findings in Proceedings of the National Academy of sciences .
3.Ecoli is dumb.
4. ecoli has ongly 5 receptores that direct decison making.
5.Azospirillum is smarter tha Ecoli because it has 48 veceptores that direct decision making.
1 Researchers at the University of Tennessee have made a discovery about cells.
2 Apparently bacteria are more capable of complex decision making than previously known.
3 Bacteria will adapt to the enviornment.
4 Scientists might use them to find new ways to fight harmful bacteria.
5 the researchers say ecoli is dumb
1. Mutant bacteria is some what way blind.
2. Their cells contain a numbe of recepters.
3. Bacteria is more capable of complex decision.
4. The process is carried by enzyme, which is damage of ozygen.
5. They’re smarter than animals.
1. Bacteria are more capable of complex decision-making than previously known.
2.Mutant bacteria were somewhat blind and could not detect the right position.
3.Bacteria’s cells contain a multiple number of receptors.
4.The bacteria that has only 5 receptors is called short as e.coli.
5.E. coli directs its decision making process about movement.
1. Mutant bacteria is blind and can not detect the right position.
2. Scientists created mutant versions of the bacteria without the receptor.
3.Cells contains a number of receptors.
4.Bacteria are more capeable of complex decision.
5.Bacteria cells contain a number of receptors.contain a number of receptors.
2)E Coli has five receptors that direct its desion making process about movement
3)Mutant bacteria is blind.
4)Since mutant bacteria is blind it cannot dtect the right position.
5)Bacteria are more capeable of complex decision.
1. Cells have receptors, that affect the bactirias charachter and traits.
2. In Tennesse. a study has shown bactira is more capable of making desions that anyone thought before.
3. This discovery os a landmark in science.
4. There will be good long term use for this discovery.
5. Bactiria in its own way is a great thinker.
bacteria are more capable of complex decision-making than previously known
scientists will be able to take the finding and use them to tailor medicines in new ways to fight harmful bacteria
cells contains a number of receptors
more than 100 amino acids in the sensory part of the receptor \
scientists have not known and have been unable to study until now is how the individual receptors directly affect the bacteria’s behavior
1. Bacteria are more capable of complex decision-making than previously known.
2. The discovery sets a landmark in research to understand the way bacteria are able to respond and adapt to changes in their environment
3.Bacteria has been newly found to make more complicated decisions than even humans.
4.Bacteria are able to respond to changes in their enviroment or stimulus
5. The process is carried by enzyme which is damage of oxygen
Bacteria are capable of complex decision making.
They are able to respond.
It helps you understand and and think.
They have five receptors.
Mutant bacteria is blind.
1.) University of Tennessee, Knoxville, show that bacteria are more capable of complex- decision
2.) Researchers think that scientists will be able to take the findings, Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy
3.) The process is carried by enzyme which is damage of oxygen
4.) Their cells contain a number of receptors
5.) scientists yet to discover the affect of the bacteria
1)Bacteria are more capable of complex decision.
2)Bacteria cells contain a number of receptors.
3)E. COLI has only five receptors that direct its decision making process about movement.
4)mutant bacteria can blind and can not detect the right position.
5)Alexandre says there’s good long-term potential for the knowledge gained in the study.
Bacteria has been newly found to make more complicated decisions than even humans
The discovery sets a landmark in research to understand the way bacteria are able to respond to changes in their environment
What scientists have not known until now is how the individual receptors, by sensing their environment, directly affect the bacteria’s behavior, and ability to adapt to their environment
Researchers think that scientists will be able to take the findings, Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy
The process is carried by enzyme which is damage of oxygen
1.) University of Tennessee show that bacteria is more capable of complex descision
2.)1.) University of Tennessee, Knoxville, show that bacteria are more capable of complex- decision
2.) Researchers think that scientists will be able to take the findings, Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy
3.) The process is carried by enzyme which is damage of oxygen
4.) Their cells contain a number of receptors
5.) scientists yet to discover the affect of the bacteria
1. Their cells are contains a number of receptors.
2. The discovery is a landmark in sience for researchers.
3. Mutant bacteria is blind.
4. Ecoli makes dumb descissions.
5. Some bacteria is smarter than animals.
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, show that bacteria are more capable of complex decision-making than previously known.
cells contains a number of receptors
Bacteria are more capable of complex decision
Mutant bacteria is some what way blind
Alexander says there’s good long-term potential for the knowledge gained in the study
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, show that bacteria are more capable of complex decisionmaking than previously known
cells contans a number of receptors
Bacteria are more capable of complx decision
Mutant bactera is some what way blind
Alexander says there’s good long-term potental for the knowledge gained in the study
1) Cells have a many receptors. 2) E. Coli has five receptors in it. Bacteria can think better than previosly thought. 4) Mutent bacteria is blind and can not detect the right position. 5) Alexandria says There is a good Long-term potential for the knowledge gained in this study
1) Researchers at the University of Tennessee have made a discovery about cells.
1) Bacteria are more capable of complex decision-making, than thinking.
3) The discovery sets a landmark in research to understand the way bacteria are able to respond to changes in their environment
4) E. coli is kind of dumb, which makes it easy for researchers to study sensing and decision making.
5) The bacteria that has only 5 receptors is called short as e.coli
1.The process is carried by enzyme which is damage of oxygen.
2.Bacteria are more capable of complex decision.
3.cells contains a number of receptors.
4.It’s not thinking in the way humans, dogs or even birds think, but new findings from researchers at the University of Tennessee.
5.The discovery sets a landmark in research to understand the way bacteria.
1. Researchers at the University of Tennessee have discovered that bacteria is more capable of complex decision but not the way we do.
2.Bacteria cells contain receptors, and each one can change things like how to move.
3.Mutant bacteria is some what blind.
4.E. coli directs its decision-making process about movement.
5.Some bacteria is smarter than animals.
1. Bacteria are more capable of complex decision-making than previously known.
2.Mutant bacteria were somewhat blind and could not detect the right position.
3.Bacteria’s cells contain a multiple number of receptors.
4.The bacteria that has only 5 receptors is called short as e.coli.
5.E. coli directs its decision making process about movement.
|P
1.University of Tennessee, Knoxville, show that bacteria are more capable of complex decision-making than previously known.
2. Scientists created mutant versions of the bacteria without the receptor.
3. The mutant bacteria were somewhat “blind” and could not detect the right position.
4.The scientists hopes that other scientists and researchers can use a similar technique to look at receptor sites on other bacteria of interest.
5.The process is carried out by an enzyme which is damaged in the presence of high concentrations of oxygen, which presents a dilemma for the bacterium, as the energy needed for the process is usually acquired in the presence of oxygen.
Bacteria is not thinking like humans, dogs, or birds.
Bacteria is more capable of decision making.
This sets a landmark in research.
So they can understand how bacteria can respond and make changes in their environment.
It can go to innovations from medicine to agriculture.
1) Bacteria are capable of decision making.
2) Cells contains receptors
3) Bacteria are going to adapt to the enviroment.
4) Mutant bacteria can blind
5) scientist are looking for a new and better way to work with bacteria
Bacteria are capable of complex decision making.
E. coli is not a smart bacteria.
Receptors control thinking in bacteria.
More receptors=smarter cell.
Bacteria can now be studied easier and better.
Bacteria are more capable of complex decision-making than previously known.
Bacteria cells contain a number of receptors, and each one affects a certain behavior or trait in the bacteria.
The advent of genetic sequencing means we know more about how many receptors bacteria have, and the more receptors, the more ways a bacterium has to sense its surroundings.
Bacteria Are More Capable of Complex Decision-Making Than Thought.
E. coli has only five receptors that direct its decision-making process about movement.
1.) University of Tennessee, Knoxville, show that bacteria are more capable of complex- decision
2.) Researchers think that scientists will be able to take the findings, Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy
3.) The process is carried by enzyme which is damage of oxygen
4.) Their cells contain a number of receptors
5.) scientists yet to discover the affect of the bacteria
Bacteria has been newly found to make more complicated decisions than even humans. Mutant bacteria were somewhat blind and could not detect the right position. Bacteria’s cells contain a multiple number of receptors. E. coli directs its decision-making process about movement. Some bacteria are smarter than animals.
1.bacteria can make better decisions than ever before
2.cells contain a number of receptors
3.mutant bacteria is blind
4.bacteria can adapt to changes in environment
5.Scientists created mutant versions of the bacteria without the receptor
1. Bacteria are more capable of complex decision.
2. Bacteria cells contain a number of recepters.
3. Mutant bacteria is blind and can not detect the right postion.
4. It adapts to it’s environment.
5. The process is carried by enzyme which is damage of oxygen.
1. Bacteria can sense there surroundings and therefore adapt through receptors.
2. E. coli has 5 receptors and Azospirillum brasilense, another bacteria, has 48.
3. Bacteria converts nitrogen into ammonium which starts the building blocks of all cells. (nitrogen fixation)
4. The receptors also since the oxygen concentration that is just right for nitrogen fixation.
5.Scientists believe that if they can figure out the key purpose of the receptors than they can mold the receptors to make the bacteria work with us not against us.
1) Researchers at the University of Tennessee have discovered that bacteria is more capable of complex decision but not the way we do.
2) Bacteria cells contain receptors, and each one can change things like how to move.
3) Mutant bacteria is some what blind.
4) All bacteria are able to respond and adapt to changes in their environment, a trait shared by nearly all living things.
5) E Coli has five receptors that direct its desion making process about movement.
1.University of Knoxville, show that bacteria are more capable of complex decision-making than previously known.
2. Bacteria cells contain receptors.
3. Mutant bacteria are blind and can’t detect the right postion.
4.Bacteria adapts to its enviroment.
5.Scientist are looking for a new and better way to work with bacteria.
1. Bacteria are capable of decision-making.
2. Bacteria can respond and adapt to its environment.
3. Bacteria’s cells contain a number of receptors.
4. Alexandre wants other scientists to use a similar technique receptor sites.
5. Alexandre and her team created mutant versions without receptors.
1. Bacteria are more capable of complex decision making than previously known.
2. Scientist from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville,TN discovered this.
3. The discovery sets a land mark in reasearch.
4. Now scientist understand the way bacteria are able to respond & react to their enviroment.
5. Being able to adapt in the enviroment is a trait that all living things have.
6. Scientist think this will help researchers in the long rum.
7. The findings are published in Procedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
bacteria are more capable of complex decision.
Bacteria cells contain a number of receptors.
E. coli has only five receptors that direct its decision making process about movement.
mutant bacteria is blind and can not detect the right position.
Alexandre says there’s good long-term potential for the knowledge gained in the study.
- Bacteria are more capable of complex decision making than thought.
- Their research is to learn about how bacteria acts in change in their environment
- They think they might be later able to use the information to help attack harmful bacteria
- There is good long term potential in the knowleedge for bacteria testing
- Scientists have not known how the bacterias receptors effect the bacterias changes
BActeria are cable of making complex decsions. All are able to adapt and change in thier enviroment. This trait is nearly shared with every living things. The bacteria cells contain many receptors. Mutant bacteria is blind and cannot detect the right position.