Cells can be made to communicate like electronic circuits claim researchers
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Researchers are developing genetically modified cells - or 'biological computers' - that can be made to communicate with each other as if they were electronic circuits.
The study, presented in the scientific journal Nature, reveals that by using yeast cells, a team from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, has produced synthetic circuits based on gene regulated communication between cells. The yeast cells have been modified genetically so that they sense their surroundings on the basis of set criteria and then send signals to other yeast cells by secreting molecules.
According to Kentaro Furukawa at the University of Gothenburg's Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, the various cells can be combined to produce more complicated circuits. Using a construction of yeast cells with different genetic modifications, it is possible to carry out more complicated 'electronic' functions than would be the case with just one type of cells.
Furukawa said: "Even though engineered cells can't do the same job as a real computer, our study paves the way for building complex constructions from these cells. In the future we expect that it will be possible to use similar cell to cell communication systems in the human body to detect changes in the state of health, to help fight illness at an early stage, or to act as biosensors to detect pollutants in connection with our ability to break down toxic substances in the environment."
