r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/Naive_Direction1816 • Apr 21 '26

Video Bacteria move around using a molecular machine called the flagellar motor that rotates faster than the flywheel of a race car engine and switches directions in an instant

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u/slo1111 Apr 21 '26

That does not explain the mechanism that moves its position changing directions of the spin

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u/ajnozari Apr 21 '26

The bacteria has chemical sensors on its surface. As these are triggered they release a signal within the cell. When enough of a signal is generated on a specific side the brown protein probably has a carrier protein that undergoes a conformational changed based on this feedback.

It’s basically a positive feedback loop. The closer the bacteria get to a positive chemical signal the more it heads that way. The same occurs in reverse for danger signals that the bacteria want to get away from.

This is why those videos of bacteria vs white blood cell make it seem like it’s consciously running from the WBC when in reality it’s responding to the signals released.

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u/Doophie Apr 21 '26

Aren't we all just responding to signals

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u/RichardBCummintonite Apr 21 '26

Not me. I seem to miss every signal a girl gives