Ideas worth spreading

How bacteria "talk"

3,074,432 views |

Bonnie Bassler |

TED2009

• February 2009

Bonnie Bassler discovered that bacteria "talk" to each other, using a chemical language that lets them coordinate defense and mount attacks. The find has stunning implications for medicine, industry -- and our understanding of ourselves.

Bonnie Bassler discovered that bacteria "talk" to each other, using a chemical language that lets them coordinate defense and mount attacks. The find has stunning implications for medicine, industry -- and our understanding of ourselves.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

Bonnie Bassler

Molecular biologist

See speaker profile

Bonnie Bassler studies how bacteria can communicate with one another, through chemical signals, to act as a unit. Her work could pave the way for new, more potent medicine.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.