Team:ETH Zurich/project/overview/summary

From 2014.igem.org

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(Mosaicoli : from simplicity to complexity with biologic gates)
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Emergence of complex patterns in nature is a fascinating and widely spread phenomenon, which is not fully understood yet. Mosai''coli'' aims to investigate emergence of complex patterns from a simple rule by engineering a cellular automaton into ''E. coli'' bacteria. This automaton comprises a grid of colonies on a [[Team:ETH_Zurich/lab/chip|3D-printed millifluidic chip]]. Each colony is either in an ON or OFF state and updates its state by integrating signals from its neighbors according to a genetically [[Team:ETH_Zurich/project/background#Pattern|pre-programmed logic rule]]. Complex patterns such as Sierpinski triangles are visualized by fluorescence after [[Team:ETH_Zurich/expresults#Diffusion_On_Chip|several steps of row-wise propagation]]. Sequential logic computation based on quorum sensing is challenged by leakiness and crosstalk present in biological systems. Mosai''coli'' overcomes these issues by exploiting multichannel orthogonal communication, riboregulators and integrase-based XOR logic gates. Engineering such a reliable system not only enables a better understanding of emergent patterns, but also provides novel building blocks for biological computers.
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Emergence of complex patterns in nature is a fascinating and widely spread phenomenon, which is not fully understood yet. Mosai''coli'' aims to investigate emergence of complex patterns from a simple rule by engineering a cellular automaton into ''E. coli'' bacteria. This automaton comprises a grid of colonies on a [[Team:ETH_Zurich/lab/chip|3D-printed millifluidic chip]]. Each colony is either in an ON or OFF state and updates its state by integrating signals from its neighbors according to a genetically [[Team:ETH_Zurich/project/background#Pattern|pre-programmed logic rule]]. Complex patterns such as Sierpinski triangles are visualized by fluorescence after [[Team:ETH_Zurich/expresults#Diffusion_On_Chip|several steps of row-wise propagation]]. Sequential logic computation based on quorum sensing is challenged by [[https://2014.igem.org/Team:ETH_Zurich/expresults#Quorum_Sensing|leakiness and crosstalk]] present in biological systems. Mosai''coli'' overcomes these issues by exploiting multichannel orthogonal communication, riboregulators and integrase-based XOR logic gates. Engineering such a reliable system not only enables a better understanding of emergent patterns, but also provides novel building blocks for biological computers.

Revision as of 02:49, 18 October 2014


Mosaicoli : from simplicity to complexity with biologic gates

Abstract



Emergence of complex patterns in nature is a fascinating and widely spread phenomenon, which is not fully understood yet. Mosaicoli aims to investigate emergence of complex patterns from a simple rule by engineering a cellular automaton into E. coli bacteria. This automaton comprises a grid of colonies on a 3D-printed millifluidic chip. Each colony is either in an ON or OFF state and updates its state by integrating signals from its neighbors according to a genetically pre-programmed logic rule. Complex patterns such as Sierpinski triangles are visualized by fluorescence after several steps of row-wise propagation. Sequential logic computation based on quorum sensing is challenged by [and crosstalk] present in biological systems. Mosaicoli overcomes these issues by exploiting multichannel orthogonal communication, riboregulators and integrase-based XOR logic gates. Engineering such a reliable system not only enables a better understanding of emergent patterns, but also provides novel building blocks for biological computers.