CleanTechnica

Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a laboratory the size of a microchip that can be used to measure water quality. Using genetically engineered bacteria that light up when in contact with pre-determined pollutants, this water quality lab will detect and communicate “contact” with monitoring systems. It’s a nano sized version of the robot fish that we recently looked at.

“We’ve developed a platform – essentially a micro-sized, quarter-inch square ‘lab’ – employing genetically engineered bacteria that light up when presented with a stressor in water,” says team lead Professor Shacham-Diamand.

Other potential uses of this micro-scale monitoring system include almost any biological process that can affect or be affected by purpose-designed bacteria, including stem cell and cancer investigations. Even the United States Department of Defense Projects Agency (DARPA) is interested, as these nanotechnology labs may become a defense against future biological warfare attacks.

Photo CC-Licensed by Flickr user Luza

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