Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Bacterial films turn to photography

Nature (2005)Cite this article

Students engineer a win with bio-parts.

Using parts from a toolkit developed by genetic engineers, a team of students has created light-sensitive bacteria that work as photographic film. It's an example of synthetic biology: a new way of thinking about life that owes as much to Henry Ford as Charles Darwin.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. LevskayaA., et al. Nature, 438. 441 - 442 doi:10.1038 (2005).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. ElowitzMB., LeiblerS., et al. Nature, 403. 335 - 338doi: 10.1038/35002125 (2000).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Tom Simonite
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

MIT.

Related links

Related links

Related links in Nature Research

Adventures in synthetic biology

FEATURE: Even students can do it

COMMENTRAY: Is it safe?

Related external links

Voight Lab

Registry of Standard Biological Parts

Drew Endy

University of Texas

IGEM

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Simonite, T. Bacterial films turn to photography. Nature (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/news051121-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/news051121-8

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing