Biocement from genetically modified bacteria could react to changes in environment : geneticliteracyproject

as mentioned in geneticliteracyproject

Biocement from genetically modified bacteria could react to changes in environment

Biocement from genetically modified bacteria could react to changes in environment

A team of scientists from Newcastle and Northumbria universities, led by architecture academic Dr Martyn Dade-Robertson, are investigating how they can create a new kind of material – biocement – where engineered cells react to changes in the environment and strengthen the soil around them.The team have identified dozens of genes in E. Coli bacteria which are regulated by pressures of 10 atm…Using this, they are modifying the bacteria to create a 'gene circuit' which would enable the bacteria to respond to their environment by producing 'biocements'.…Dr Dade-Robertson suggests: "The application hints at new way of doing design.


besides horizon-magazine

'Living buildings' could use bacteria for heat, electricity and repairs

'Living buildings' could use bacteria for heat, electricity and repairs

Rachel Armstrong, professor of experimental architecture at Newcastle University, UK, says that she believes cities of the future will be powered by the natural biological processes of bacteria and will behave more like living organisms.See also The power of bacteria'We're going to be looking at a change in infrastructure so it's no longer vents to let air in and out but breathing systems,' she said.'Instead of having buildings with drains we'll have buildings with circulations.


in the same way sciencemag

'Thinking soil' made of bacteria could keep buildings from collapsing

'Thinking soil' made of bacteria could keep buildings from collapsing

It can be quite costly, even catastrophic, when the land under a building subsides.But genetically engineered microbes may one day keep that from happening if researchers in the United Kingdom are successful.Inspired by undergraduates who made a concrete-repairing bacterium—dubbed BacillaFilla—for a synthetic biology competition, a biodesigner and his colleagues have been pushing hard to develop biocement, a material that custom-built soil microbes would produce in response to the changing pressures in soil to help shore up the ground under foundations.