transduktions

Transduction, sometimes referred to in German-language sources as Transduktion, denotes the process of converting one form of energy or information into another. In biology and physiology, transduction has two related senses. Sensory transduction describes how specialized receptor cells convert environmental stimuli—such as photons, mechanical energy, or chemical molecules—into electrical signals that are interpreted by the nervous system. Examples include phototransduction in retinal photoreceptors and mechanotransduction in auditory hair cells. Signal transduction refers to the intracellular processes by which cells detect and respond to signals, typically initiated by receptor activation and propagated through second messengers, kinases, and transcriptional changes.

In genetics, transduction is a form of horizontal gene transfer in bacteria and archaea mediated by bacteriophages. Generalized transduction can move any part of the bacterial genome, while specialized transduction transfers genes adjacent to the phage integration site.

In engineering and data processing, a transducer converts energy or information from one form to another, such as a microphone (acoustic to electrical) or a loudspeaker (electrical to acoustic). In signal processing, transduction may refer to transforming a signal into a different representation usable by a system.

Across disciplines, the common core is conversion or transfer of information, energy, or signals from one form to another, enabling perception, communication, and appropriate biological or technical responses.