• Popular
    • Medicine
    • Radiology
    • Cardiology
    • Surgery
    • Nanomedicine
    • Military Medicine
    • Rehab
  • Categories
    • Exclusive
    • A-D
      • Anesthesiology
      • Art
      • Cardiac Surgery
      • Cardiology
      • Critical Care
      • Dentistry
      • Dermatology
      • Diagnostics
    • E-I
      • Emergency Medicine
      • ENT
      • Genetics
      • Geriatrics
      • GI
      • Informatics
    • M-N
      • Medicine
      • Military Medicine
      • Nanomedicine
      • Net News
      • Neurology
      • Neurosurgery
      • Nuclear Medicine
    • O-P
      • Ob/Gyn
      • Oncology
      • Ophthalmology
      • Orthopedic Surgery
      • Pathology
      • Pediatrics
      • Plastic Surgery
      • Psychiatry
      • Public Health
    • R-V
      • Radiation Oncology
      • Radiology
      • Rehab
      • Reproductive Medicine
      • Space Medicine
      • Sports Medicine
      • Surgery
      • Thoracic Surgery
      • Urology
      • Vascular Surgery
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • Submit PR
  • About
  • Follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
    • Youtube
    • Instagram
    • RSS
  • Submit PR
  • Log in
Medgadget
Medgadget
  • Popular
    • Medicine
      Magnetic Dressing Improves Diabetic Wound Healing

      Magnetic Dressing Improves Diabetic Wound Healing

      Eko’s Newest CORE 500 Stethoscope: A Review

      Eko’s Newest CORE 500 Stethoscope: A Review

      Microfluidic System Incorporates Eight Organ Tissues for Drug Testing

      Microfluidic System Incorporates Eight Organ Tissues for Drug Testing

      Suction Cup Delivers Drugs Through Cheek

      Suction Cup Delivers Drugs Through Cheek

    • Radiology
      Shear-Thinning Biomaterial for Embolic Applications: Interview with Upma Sharma, President and CEO of Arsenal Medical

      Shear-Thinning Biomaterial for Embolic Applications: Interview with Upma Sharma, President and CEO of Arsenal Medical

      Ultrasound-Equipped Bra Monitors for Breast Cancer

      Ultrasound-Equipped Bra Monitors for Breast Cancer

      Portable and Radiation-Free Imaging with Magnetic Nanoparticles

      Portable and Radiation-Free Imaging with Magnetic Nanoparticles

      Imaging Technique Reveals Living Brain Tissue in its Complexity

      Imaging Technique Reveals Living Brain Tissue in its Complexity

    • Cardiology
      Eko’s Newest CORE 500 Stethoscope: A Review

      Eko’s Newest CORE 500 Stethoscope: A Review

      Shear-Thinning Biomaterial for Embolic Applications: Interview with Upma Sharma, President and CEO of Arsenal Medical

      Shear-Thinning Biomaterial for Embolic Applications: Interview with Upma Sharma, President and CEO of Arsenal Medical

      Ultrasound-Equipped Bra Monitors for Breast Cancer

      Ultrasound-Equipped Bra Monitors for Breast Cancer

      3D Printed Heart Muscle Beats

      3D Printed Heart Muscle Beats

    • Surgery
      Magnetic Dressing Improves Diabetic Wound Healing

      Magnetic Dressing Improves Diabetic Wound Healing

      Sensor Monitors Transplanted Organs for Signs of Rejection

      Sensor Monitors Transplanted Organs for Signs of Rejection

      Refillable Device for Drug Delivery Past the Blood-Brain Barrier: Interview with Mike Maglin, CEO at CraniUS

      Refillable Device for Drug Delivery Past the Blood-Brain Barrier: Interview with Mike Maglin, CEO at CraniUS

      Droplet Battery Harnesses Ionic Gradients for Bioelectronic Implants

      Droplet Battery Harnesses Ionic Gradients for Bioelectronic Implants

    • Nanomedicine
      Nanorobots Release Reactive Oxygen Species to Kill Fungal Biofilms

      Nanorobots Release Reactive Oxygen Species to Kill Fungal Biofilms

      Bottlebrush Nanoparticles Deliver Immunostimulatory Drugs

      Bottlebrush Nanoparticles Deliver Immunostimulatory Drugs

      Nanoparticles Deliver mRNA Therapy to the Lungs

      Nanoparticles Deliver mRNA Therapy to the Lungs

      Nanoparticles Get Lymphatic Vessels Pumping

      Nanoparticles Get Lymphatic Vessels Pumping

    • Military Medicine
      Wearable Can Take Multiple Sweat Samples

      Wearable Can Take Multiple Sweat Samples

      Wound Dressing Detects Infection, Changes Color

      Wound Dressing Detects Infection, Changes Color

      Device Measures Hemoglobin More Accurately in Dark Skin

      Device Measures Hemoglobin More Accurately in Dark Skin

      Fingertip Sensor Measures Lithium Levels in Sweat

      Fingertip Sensor Measures Lithium Levels in Sweat

    • Rehab
      Stretchable E-Skin for Robotic Prostheses

      Stretchable E-Skin for Robotic Prostheses

      Glasses Provide Audible Prompts for Blind Wearers

      Glasses Provide Audible Prompts for Blind Wearers

      A Wearable to Manage Parkinson’s Motor Symptoms: Interview with Lucy Jung, CEO at Charco Neurotech

      A Wearable to Manage Parkinson’s Motor Symptoms: Interview with Lucy Jung, CEO at Charco Neurotech

      Robotic Ankle Helps with Postural Control in Amputees

      Robotic Ankle Helps with Postural Control in Amputees

  • Categories
    • Exclusive
    • A-D
      • Anesthesiology
      • Art
      • Cardiac Surgery
      • Cardiology
      • Critical Care
      • Dentistry
      • Dermatology
      • Diagnostics
    • E-I
      • Emergency Medicine
      • ENT
      • Genetics
      • Geriatrics
      • GI
      • Informatics
    • M-N
      • Medicine
      • Military Medicine
      • Nanomedicine
      • Net News
      • Neurology
      • Neurosurgery
      • Nuclear Medicine
    • O-P
      • Ob/Gyn
      • Oncology
      • Ophthalmology
      • Orthopedic Surgery
      • Pathology
      • Pediatrics
      • Plastic Surgery
      • Psychiatry
      • Public Health
    • R-V
      • Radiation Oncology
      • Radiology
      • Rehab
      • Reproductive Medicine
      • Space Medicine
      • Sports Medicine
      • Surgery
      • Thoracic Surgery
      • Urology
      • Vascular Surgery
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • Submit PR
  • About
  • Log in
  • Submit PR
  • Follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
    • Youtube
    • Instagram
    • RSS

“Would E. coli, by any other name, smell as sweet?”

November 3rd, 2006 Nicholas Genes Genetics

From today’s MIT Technology Review comes news of an undergrad project on bacteria and odor — and no, the experiments were not conducted in a fraternity or locker room. The idea was to promote the field of synthetic biology, and build a library of standardized, modular biological components that can be added to organisms to enhance function. It sounds lofty, but in practice it seems most of these functions are novelty items:

Anyone who has ever smelled E. coli bacteria knows that they smell bad. Putridly bad. So, a group of student bioengineers at MIT set out to sweeten the scent of this commonly used lab bacteria. The team constructed its creation from a collection of biological “parts”–bits of DNA that, when inserted into living organisms, can make the organisms glow, detect light, and perform a number of other unusual functions. The team will showcase its sweet-smelling bug this weekend at the International Genetically Engineered Machine competition (iGEM) at MIT, along with 37 other student groups from around the world…
To create the scented bacteria, the students looked for different genes that convert chemicals naturally made by bacteria into chemical precursors of aromatic compounds, as well as genes that convert the precursors to the aromatics themselves — methyl salicylate, commonly known as oil of wintergreen, and isoamyl acetate, a component of the ripe-banana smell. The genes were then hooked up to genetic controllers, known as promoters, which determine when and where that gene is turned on. A gene from a plant, for example, might be controlled by a promoter from bacteria.
The various DNA components, collected from fellow scientists and from a genetic repository housed at MIT, were then embedded in a circular string of DNA and inserted into bacteria. The end result is a new strain of E. coli that smells of mint and bananas. The team also eliminated the gene responsible for E. coli’s natural stink.

This coming weekend, meet all 37 synthetic biology teams from around the world at MIT’s Stata Center for the iGEM 2006 Jamboree. This prestigious synthetic biology event, filled with presentations and awards, is open to the public.
The organisers promise to make videos from the affair, and make them available over the internet. Once they become available, we’ll link to it.
More about the Jamboree…
Competition’s website…
Read the article from MIT Tech Review here…

Nicholas Genes

Nicholas Genes, MD, PhD, has been with Medgadget since almost the beginning. He's now Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at Mount Sinai, where in addition to patient care and teaching responsibilities, he studies EHR usability and physician uses of social media. Dr. Genes serves on the editorial boards of Emergency Physicians Monthly and Emergency Medicine Practice. More about Nick: http://nickgenes.com

Sponsored
Ark Surgical Performs First Hysterectomies in the USA with its FDA-Cleared LapBox for Manual Morcellation

Ark Surgical Performs First Hysterectomies in the USA with its FDA-Cleared LapBox for Manual Morcellation

PACKAGING COMPLIANCE LABS WELCOMES NEW CFO, BERNADETTE LEGARETTA

PACKAGING COMPLIANCE LABS WELCOMES JENN GOFF, VP SALES, MARKETING, AND INNOVATION

Clarius Debuts its First Dual-Array Wireless Handheld Scanner Enabling Whole-Body Views of Superficial to Deep Anatomy

Clarius Debuts its First Dual-Array Wireless Handheld Scanner Enabling Whole-Body Views of Superficial to Deep Anatomy

National Liver Health Awareness Month Highlights the Urgent Need for Liver Disease Prevention

National Liver Health Awareness Month Highlights the Urgent Need for Liver Disease Prevention

interviews & reviews
A Wearable to Manage Parkinson’s Motor Symptoms: Interview with Lucy Jung, CEO at Charco Neurotech

A Wearable to Manage Parkinson’s Motor Symptoms: Interview with Lucy Jung, CEO at Charco Neurotech

Eko’s Newest CORE 500 Stethoscope: A Review

Eko’s Newest CORE 500 Stethoscope: A Review

Shear-Thinning Biomaterial for Embolic Applications: Interview with Upma Sharma, President and CEO of Arsenal Medical

Shear-Thinning Biomaterial for Embolic Applications: Interview with Upma Sharma, President and CEO of Arsenal Medical

Refillable Device for Drug Delivery Past the Blood-Brain Barrier: Interview with Mike Maglin, CEO at CraniUS

Refillable Device for Drug Delivery Past the Blood-Brain Barrier: Interview with Mike Maglin, CEO at CraniUS

UV-Free Air Decontamination: Interview with Sorel Rothschild, VP at Quantum Innovations

UV-Free Air Decontamination: Interview with Sorel Rothschild, VP at Quantum Innovations

EarliPoint Evaluation System for ASD Diagnosis: Interview with Tom Ressemann, CEO of EarliTec Dx

EarliPoint Evaluation System for ASD Diagnosis: Interview with Tom Ressemann, CEO of EarliTec Dx

Visually Guided Uterine Biopsies in Physician’s Office: Interview with Allison London Brown, CEO of LUMINELLE

Visually Guided Uterine Biopsies in Physician’s Office: Interview with Allison London Brown, CEO of LUMINELLE

  • Subscribe
  • Contact us
  • Submit
  • About
  • Back to top
Medgadget

Medical technologies transform the world! Join us and see the progress in real time. At Medgadget, we report the latest technology news, interview leaders in the field, and file dispatches from medical events around the world since 2004.

  • About
  • Editorial policies
  • Contact
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy
  • Submit press release
  • Advertise
© Medgadget, Inc. All rights reserved. | The Medical Revolution Will Be Blogged.
Please support this website by adding us to your whitelist in your ad blocker. Ads are what helps us bring you premium content! Thank you!