Figure 3.

Interconversion of physical signals in human communication networks (left) and microbial analogs (right). In all panels, the sender is on the left, the receiver on the right, and information carriers in the middle. In a manner analogous to the interconversion of sounds and electric signals in fixed telephone lines, microbial cells might be polarized by incoming sound waves of the correct frequency to control the flow of electrons and electric currents generated or received by the cell and vice versa (top panel). Furthermore, the degree of polarization could also control the electrical excitability of the cell and the intracellular nanoscale motions that could induce sound-generating vibrations. The interconversion of electromagnetic radiation (ER) [GT1]and sounds during radio broadcasting also could have a microbial analog (bottom panel). The intracellular movement of charged particles that is induced by sound waves could create an electromagnetic field and serve as a source of ER. The reverse would be also possible: ER might induce mechanical vibration and polarization of the cell, thereby enabling the generation of sounds and electric currents, respectively.