Which statement best describes the mechanism by which bacteria coordinate collective behaviors through quorum sensing?
- A) Individual bacteria directly exchange plasmid DNA through conjugation bridges to activate dormant metabolic genes simultaneously.
- B) Cells release and detect signaling molecules called autoinducers, triggering coordinated gene expression once a threshold concentration is reached.
- C) Pathogenic bacteria exclusively recognize host endocrine hormones to synchronize cell division within an infected tissue.
- D) Surface receptor proteins undergo electrical membrane depolarization when adjacent bacterial cells make direct physical contact.
