Quorum Sensing
Companies use threshold-based decision-making similar to quorum sensing.
The organization waits for a signal to cross a threshold before triggering coordinated behavior change. Too early = wasted effort. Too late = missed opportunity.
Bacteria coordinate using chemical signaling called quorum sensing. Each cell produces small amounts of autoinducers. As population grows, concentration increases. When it crosses a threshold (indicating high density = quorum), bacteria detect it and change behavior.
Vibrio fischeri doesn't bioluminesce at low density (waste of energy). At 10^11 cells/mL, quorum sensing triggers bioluminescence genes - the entire colony lights up synchronously. Pseudomonas aeruginosa waits for quorum before producing toxins, overwhelming immune systems with coordinated attack.
Business Application of Quorum Sensing
Companies use threshold-based decision-making similar to quorum sensing. Stripe's '$5M ARR threshold' for hiring VP of Sales ensured the organization was ready before triggering coordinated behavior change. Below threshold = wasted effort. Above threshold with delay = missed opportunity.
Discovery
Woody Hastings (1960)
Observed Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence was density-dependent - cultures remained dark at low density but lit up when population crossed ~10^7 cells/mL threshold, discovering that bacteria were 'counting themselves'
Quorum Sensing Appears in 2 Chapters
Bacteria coordinate attacks using quorum sensing - autoinducer concentration reflects population density, triggering synchronized action when numbers are sufficient.
Chemical coordination through quorum sensing →Quorum sensing creates bistable switches - populations flip sharply between OFF and ON states when autoinducer concentration crosses thresholds.
The mechanics of quorum sensing →