Glucose
A simple sugar (monosaccharide) that serves as the primary energy source for cells. The molecule that bacteria like E. coli swim toward and that your cells burn for fuel.
Biological Context
Glucose is the universal fuel. When E. coli detects rising glucose concentrations, it swims straight; when glucose falls, it tumbles to find a new direction. In your body, blood glucose levels are tightly regulated—too low causes brain dysfunction, too high damages tissues. After meals, insulin signals cells to absorb glucose; between meals, glucagon signals the liver to release stored glucose. This feedback loop maintains blood sugar within a narrow range.
Business Application
Glucose represents the core resource that organisms orient their entire sensing apparatus around. For bacteria, it's the signal that matters most. For businesses, the equivalent might be cash flow, user engagement, or customer retention—the metric so fundamental that the organization's survival depends on sensing its gradient correctly.