Biofilms allow bacteria to share what?

Biofilms allow bacteria to share what?

• A. Sugars
• B. Genes
• C. Nutrients
• D. Water

Answer: (C)

In a biofilm, cells live in a cooperative, well-organized community encased in a sticky matrix that traps nutrients and metabolic by-products close to the cells. This setup creates a locally rich reservoir of resources and slows their loss, so nearby cells can readily access them. Different microbes can specialize in producing or consuming particular nutrients, enabling cross-feeding where one species’ waste or secreted metabolites become another’s food. This metabolic interdependence helps the whole community grow more efficiently and endure fluctuations in the external environment. While horizontal gene transfer can occur in these dense communities, the most evident form of sharing linked to biofilms is the distribution and use of nutrients and metabolites among neighboring cells.

In a biofilm, cells live in a cooperative, well-organized community encased in a sticky matrix that traps nutrients and metabolic by-products close to the cells. This setup creates a locally rich reservoir of resources and slows their loss, so nearby cells can readily access them. Different microbes can specialize in producing or consuming particular nutrients, enabling cross-feeding where one species’ waste or secreted metabolites become another’s food. This metabolic interdependence helps the whole community grow more efficiently and endure fluctuations in the external environment. While horizontal gene transfer can occur in these dense communities, the most evident form of sharing linked to biofilms is the distribution and use of nutrients and metabolites among neighboring cells.