Reflections on the History of Microbial Chemical Ecology: The concept of quorum sensing, which arose relatively late, might converge with the broader field of chemical ecology

My thoughts on microbial chemical ecology continue to evolve. Moreover, in writing about this subject, I draw on several distantly related disciplines, including history, philosophy, evolution, microbiology, chemistry, and ecology. Yet, this broad reach reflects my attempt to explore “quorum sensing,” a concept that is anything but esoteric among microbiologists.