MIT Researchers Engineer Bacteria into Living Transistors for Biological Circuits

Researchers at MIT have successfully engineered bacteria to function as transistors, enabling them to create 'living circuit boards' capable of performing calculations and directing chemical signals. These biological computers could potentially be used to coat plant roots or leaves, detecting environmental threats and automatically triggering defenses. The team developed two types of bacterial transistors and three additional bacterial strains that act as relays, providing a modular set of components for building complex biological circuits.