Genetically Engineered Bacteria Enable Self-Powered Biosensors
Recent advances in synthetic biology and bioelectrochemistry have led to the development of self-powered chemical sensors using genetically engineered bacteria. Researchers from Imperial College London and Zhejiang University have created living biosensors that convert chemical signals into electrical outputs. These devices promise low-cost, portable, and programmable bioelectronic applications. Limitations of Traditional Biosensors Conventional biosensors often rely on enzymes. They tend to be fragile and expensive. Their response times can be slow, especially in complex environments. Optical signals from whole-cell biosensors are difficult to integrate with portable electronics. These issues limit their practical use in field conditions. Engineering Bacteria for Electrical Signal Output Researchers used Escherichia coli bacteria as biological platforms. The bacteria were genetically modified to include three modules – sensing, information processing, and output. The sensing mod...