Flipping light on-off turns bacteria into chemical factories

(Princeton University, Engineering School) Researchers at Princeton University have created a new and improved way to more precisely control genetically engineered bacteria: by simply switching the lights on and off. Working in E. coli, the workhorse organism for scientists to engineer metabolism, researchers developed a system for controlling one of the key genetic circuits needed to turn bacteria into chemical factories that produce valuable compounds such as the biofuel isobutanol.
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - Category: Biology Source Type: news