Biological Cell Communication: Quorum Sensing Versus Electromagnetic Signaling

Abstract

This paper presents a quantitative comparison between electromagnetic-based and biochemical-based communication within community of biological cells. The concept of cell-to-cell communication via electromagnetic signaling has been recently postulated. It is shown that certain bacteria within their biofilms are equipped with antennas allowing them to transmit and receive signals to their neighboring cells and surrounding environment. Here, using communication channel modeling, we examine the maximum channel capacity and its variation as a function of distance based on both concepts and show EM signaling outperforms quorum sensing so far as data rate and communication distance are concerned. Fick's diffusion equation is combined with information theory fundamental equations for channel modeling of quorum sensing and Shannon channel capacity theorem is applied to EM-based communication channel for estimating the channel capacity. Results indicate that the EM-based communication provides much higher channel capacity compared to the quorum sensing.