Cells Cooperate to Increase Decision Capability

Researchers at John Hopkins developed a method of quantifying a cell's, or group of cells, ability to make decisions. By observing the cell's response to stimuli, the researchers calculated the amount of information (in bits) the cell was able to process.

The researchers observed mice cells' response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a well known stimulant that turns on the body's inflammatory response. When a cell senses TNF, it sends a messenger protein to the nucleus to turn on inflammation genes. The researchers labeled this protein, so that the cell's response could be observed in the form of light. The intensity of light in the nucleus was used as the measure of the cell's response (higher response sends more protein to the nucleus, which then appears brighter).

From these measurements, the researchers calculated a single cell's response as 0.92 bits of information, corresponding to the ability to analyze a total of two possible decisions. In other words, a single cell is able to detect, or to not detect, the presence of TNF. The researchers proceeded to test a variety of stimuli in different combinations, but single cells were still only capable of making one of two possible decisions.

The researchers then proceeded to observe groups of cells, and found that clusters of 14 cells could process 1.8 bits of information, allowing the cluster 3 to 4 possible decisions.

This research is interesting because it quantifies, for the first time, a cell's ability to make decisions. This research opens another door to observing how cells can be expected to respond to stimuli, and the mechanisms by which cells communicate to expand their decision capability. Quantifying a cell's ability to make decisions allows a more detailed analysis of observations of cell behavior, including testing the ways by which cells "expand their decision repertoire."

Article found here: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/why_many_cells_are_better_than_one

And a video of cellular collaboration, for your enjoyment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=bkVhLJLG7ug#!