Memo-Cell project

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Introduction

Humans have invented many ways to count, from very simple manual counter to more complex logic gates implemented within electrical circuits.

Counting is an essential process in our daily life, and implementing an automated counter into bacteria could have many applications, from medical to industrial.

Counting with bacteria is a concept that has already been tackled but which is still in its infancy. Some counters have already been designed and implemented, but could only count up to three; though they could be extended. However, as these systems lie on the number of different transcription factors / recombination enzymes available AND characterized, extension to achieve counting more that 3 is pretty limited. Moreover, it is important to notice that for these designs, once an element as been used for counting, it can not be reused.

We propose here a completely novel and original approach to free from these constraints, allowing a limitless counting.

The framework for this approach is fairly simple. We will implement memory within the bacteria using a sequential integration of DNA pieces into the bacteria chromosome, controlled in space an time.

Basically, the module we have developped is completely modular. To work, it just needs to be plug with an input module and an output module. Each time the input module will send a signal, our memory module will add one number to the count. When the memo-cell is used as a recorder, no output module needs to be connected. However, if a timer function is what you’re looking for, you can plug an output module which will be triggered when the counter will have counted up to the desired number.

Approach

Our plan is to create a mechanism that allows the bacteria to integrate in its chromosomee a specific piece of DNA at a specific location, everytime it senses the input signal. Moreover,

What we need:

Bacteria can manipulate DNA with ease, let’s use this property. e

Even if bacteria are «less» complex than us, they can be very useful as it has been proved during the last years since the beginning of synthetic biology.