Team:Cambridge-JIC

PhytoSpy: a modular biosensor

Aim:

Build a modular biosensor using the plant Marchantia Polymorpha.

Plan:

Use the lower plant Marchantia Polymorpha as a flexible biosensor. The input, processing and output functionality are parceled into separate modules which are linked using transcription factors and inducible promoters. The modules can be interchanged, allowing many devices to be constructed from the same library of components.

Vision:

Produce input, processing and output modules in separate plants which can be combined through Mendelian crossing. We want to make plant biosensors accessible to the home enthusiast in the same way that electronics is made accessible by Arduino.