Modified Bacteria Become a Multicellular Circuit-- http://ukcanadaus.blogspot.com/
~!~ Scientists create a biological circuit by programming bacteria to alter gene expression in an entire population// They have created a biological equivalent to a computer circuit that involves multiple organisms to influence a population// http://ukcanadaus.blogspot.com/
~!~ The researchers* goal is to modify biological systems by controlling how bacteria influence each other// This could lead to bacteria that, for instance, beneficially alter the gut microbiome in humans//
~!~ Humans* stomachs have a lot of different kinds of bacteria, said Rice synthetic biologist Matthew Bennett// **They naturally form a large consortium// One thought is that when we engineer bacteria to be placed into guts, they should also be part of a consortium// Working together allows them to effect more change than if they worked in isolation//**
~!~ In the proof of concept study, Bennett and his team created two strains of genetically engineered bacteria that regulate the production of proteins essential to intercellular signaling pathways, which allow cells to coordinate their efforts, generally in beneficial ways//