Bacterial Quorum Sensing

Vibrio harveyi is a marine bacteria that emits light only at high population density. The bacterial bioluminescence is controlled by a system called quorum sensing. In this system, signaling molecules are secreted, and when they bind to cell surface receptors, they turn on many genes, including those that produce bioluminescence.

Can you think about what sorts of genetic mutations might affect the quorum-sensing system?

Round balls labeled Signaling molecules move from Signal genes through the cell surface. One is bound to a Receptor with an arrow pointing to Light genes which is turned on.
Components of a quorum-sensing system