I was reading the article of Dallon & Othmer (2010) which deals with cell aggregation in Dictyostelium discoideum. In the introduction of the paper it is said that cells becomes "relay competent". I googled for the term but could not find a good explanation for it.
After a period of starvation they become chemotactically sensitive to cyclic adenosine 3 , 5- monophosphate (cAMP), as well as relay competent.
Can someone help me understand this term?