Research Overview
We are inspired by how Nature solves chemical problems.
Living systems can synthesize complex molecules, convert light or biomass into usable energy, produce high-performance materials, and harness the power of molecular self-assembly and replication.
Consider the bacterium E. coli, which is shown above (top right). It swims toward things it likes and away from things it doesn’t. It communicates with other cells. It synthesizes complicated compounds and replicates itself every 20 minutes. Put another way, E. coli tastes, thinks, talks, listens, and makes things. The programs that control these behaviors are stored in a genome that is smaller than most mp3 files (see a cool representation here).
We reprogram biological systems to solve problems in chemistry, biology, and materials science. Click the ovals below to see how.
