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E.coli Lightbulb

  • Liz V
  • Nov 2, 2016
  • 1 min read

It could soon be possible to make a light source out of bacteria, making it easier for Joliet residents and others to save on their light bill. A group of students from Newcastle University in the United Kingdom is attempting to combine electronic engineering and synthetic biology to create “electro-biological” circuits.

Electro-biology is a branch of biology that deals with electric occurrences in plants and animals.

The students used genetically modified E.coli to make something similar to a light bulb. The bulb will switch on when the bacteria experience heat stress from a miniature microbial fuel cell, a device that acts as a battery by harnessing electrical energy.

The project debut in Boston at the International Genetically Engineered Machine competition (iGEM) on October 29. iGEM is an annual global competition that ends in a synthetic biology science fair called the Giant Jamboree. The eight-person team from Newcastle is just one of 300 teams from 40 countries.

Unfortunately, the Newcastle team failed to get the fuel cell to activate the lightbulb in the final round of testing.

In an interview with iGEM, Newcastle team member Ollie Burton said, “Everything we have done is open source,” he says. “It’s more about what other people can do with the basis we’ve set, rather than design anything revolutionary ourselves. We wanted to provide people with the tools to generate new and exciting technologies.”

Finding sustainable energy is important for our pocket books and for the world. You can learn more about e.coli lightbulb at http://igem.org/About

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