MIT researchers engineer bacteria to perform logic operations as biological transistors

Researchers at MIT have engineered bacteria capable of performing the basic switching functions of transistors, allowing for the construction of biological circuits from living cells. Using the bacterium Pantoea agglomerans, the team created biological transistors that process information via chemical signals rather than electrical currents.

By printing bacterial colonies onto agar, the researchers demonstrated that these cells can perform logic operations, such as OR and implication functions, and even act as a demultiplexer. The system utilizes specialized bacterial strains to act as relays, translating chemical signals between components to form larger networks. This technology could eventually enable computation directly within biological environments, such as bacteria on plant roots or leaves detecting stress and triggering responses without the need for conventional electronics.