Idears
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you see these three words: tree, neon lights and dinner service?
Christmas!
Well, exactly, and that is what our project is all about. Our synthetic biology project will modify several E.coli to perform different jobs:
E.tree
The tree includes the leaf part and the trunk part. The “leaves” will change color according to the nutrients in the “soil”: if the soil is rich in nitrates, the “leaves” are green and healthy; otherwise, the leaves will turn yellow.
Neon Lights
Each engineered E.coli can emit one light at first (such as red); after a while, the red light fades and another light is emitted. The different combination of such E.coli could therefore achieve the effect of neon lights.
Dinner service
The genetically modified bacteria involve a certain self-feedback system. When the “customer” is starving, it orders dinner from the “chef”; and the chef serves meals. While the “customer” is full, it releases a signal molecule and tells the “chef” that no more food is wanted, so the “chef” stops cooking.
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