Go to » Video demonstration of E.chromi

It’s rare to see an innovation that could really change the world, but E.chromi could well be it. But don’t take our word for it, it won MIT’s coveted International Genetically Machine (iGEM) award, as well as garnered attention from anyone with even a passing interest in the developing world. Why? Its incredible potential to revolutionise third world healthcare.

A team of undergraduates from Cambridge designed basic DNA sequences called BioBricks, which they implanted into E.coli bacteria. These BioBricks contain genes that can detect chemicals and produce a pigment when the amount of a chemical reaches a certain level. Hence E.chromi, the new organism, is able to produce red, yellow, green, blue, brown, or violet colours in response to chemicals. Undoubtedly it’s clever, but what use could it be?

Well it can be programmed to do all sorts of things, among them detect arsenic in ground water – if it turns red, people will know not to drink it. But beyond that, it could be put in a probiotic yoghurt drink and act as a tool for self-diagnosis: depending on what colour your waste comes out, you’ll know what’s potentially wrong with you, and can see a doctor and nip the problem in the bud.

It can detect bowel cancer, worms, salmonella and stomach ulcers, among others, with future uses seeing it even extend to turning clouds red if there’s an excess of CO2. This is proper world changing stuff, and the most exciting thing is we’re only at the beginning…