Microbial engineering often requires fine control over protein expression—for example, to
connect genetic circuits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or control flux through a metabolic pathway 8, 9, 10,
11, 12, 13. To circumvent the need for trial and error optimization, we developed a predictive …

Genetically encodable optical reporters, such as green fluorescent protein, have
revolutionized the observation and measurement of cellular states. However, the inverse
challenge of using light to control precisely cellular behaviour has only recently begun to be …

Bacteria can sense their environment, distinguish between cell types, and deliver proteins to
eukaryotic cells. Here, we engineer the interaction between bacteria and cancer cells to
depend on heterologous environmental signals. We have characterized invasin from …

Computation underlies the organization of cells into higher-order structures, for example
during development or the spatial association of bacteria in a biofilm 1, 2, 3. Each cell
performs a simple computational operation, but when combined with cell–cell …

We have designed a bacterial system that is switched between different states by red light.
The system consists of a synthetic sensor kinase that allows a lawn of bacteria to function as
a biological film, such that the projection of a pattern of light on to the bacteria produces a …

Edge detection is a signal processing algorithm common in artificial intelligence and image
recognition programs. We have constructed a genetically encoded edge detection algorithm
that programs an isogenic community of E. coli to sense an image of light, communicate to …

Microorganisms use genetic circuits to integrate environmental information. We have
constructed a synthetic AND gate in the bacterium Escherichia coli that integrates
information from two promoters as inputs and activates a promoter output only when both …

Genetic programs function to integrate environmental sensors, implement signal processing
algorithms and control expression dynamics 1. These programs consist of integrated genetic
circuits that individually implement operations ranging from digital logic to dynamic circuits 2 …

Cells navigate environments, communicate and build complex patterns by initiating gene
expression in response to specific signals. Engineers seek to harness this capability to
program cells to perform tasks or create chemicals and materials that match the complexity …

Borrowing concepts from the schema theory of genetic algorithms, we have developed a
computational algorithm to identify the fragments of proteins, or schemas, that can be
recombined without disturbing the integrity of the three-dimensional structure. When …