Bacteria Engineered as Living Computer Chips

MIT researchers have successfully engineered bacteria to operate as biological transistors, enabling the creation of printable "circuit boards" on growth material. These modified bacterial cells act as switches, controlling the flow of signaling molecules to transmit information between components in a living circuit. The system utilizes five engineered strains, providing a modular foundation for constructing various computational functions.

This breakthrough allows for the assembly of complex biological circuits, including those capable of adding multiple inputs or directing signals. While these bacterial computations are significantly slower than electronic equivalents, taking up to eight hours per calculation, their pace is deemed practical for biological applications like monitoring plant health. The technology holds promise for agriculture, potentially enabling bacteria on plant roots to detect environmental stresses and trigger responses.

The research team demonstrated circuits that can perform logic operations and even add two inputs, showcasing the potential for integrating computational control directly into biological systems. This development opens doors for novel applications in fields requiring biological computation, such as precision agriculture and environmental monitoring.