Constructor Bacteria
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==Possible Extensions== | ==Possible Extensions== | ||
| + | Assuming that the behavior described above will actually to the formation of small spheres encapsulating the area the cascading cells formerly occupied, one could use this to encapsulate specific substances or nano-particles. Such an effect could be useful to produce capsules filled with drugs or other agents or some cleaning behavior removing certain substances or physical particles from a solution. | ||
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=Discussion= | =Discussion= | ||
>> for comments, questions and temporary remarks go to the [[Talk:Constructor_Bacteria]] | >> for comments, questions and temporary remarks go to the [[Talk:Constructor_Bacteria]] | ||
Back to [[ETH Zurich]] main page. | Back to [[ETH Zurich]] main page. | ||
Revision as of 12:55, 4 August 2005
Contents |
Intro
To have some 3D population of bacteria build structures with certain (stochastic?) patterns/regularities.
Principle
Quorum sensing and some fancy cascades triggered when some threshold is reached, leading to the excretion of substances that will add up to structures (or some other interesting phenomena).
The Random Sphere approach
Basic Idea
Assume the bacteria population starts with the slow but steady production of A, which diffuses into the vicinity and can be sensed by other bacteria (Quorum Sensing). When a critical threshold is reached within a bacterium, a cascade is triggered (nothing new there). The cascade consists of a short but intensive production of B while ceasing the production of A, and a delayed aptosis (suicide). It is very likely, that the process is stochastic, i.e. that due to differences in individual sensitivity and in local concentration some bacteria will be first, while others will never sense a critical threshold of A and thus never start the cascade. Probably, A and B will both need to degrade rather quickly. While A now is no longer produced around the bacteria in the death cascade, B is suddenly present in hopefully high concentrations in its vicinity. The survivors that have not reached the threshold of A to trigger a cascade themselves, will now react to B and start to excrete some substance C, which will harden to some structure that will most likely form spheres or some very porous structure.
Possible Extensions
Assuming that the behavior described above will actually to the formation of small spheres encapsulating the area the cascading cells formerly occupied, one could use this to encapsulate specific substances or nano-particles. Such an effect could be useful to produce capsules filled with drugs or other agents or some cleaning behavior removing certain substances or physical particles from a solution.
Discussion
>> for comments, questions and temporary remarks go to the Talk:Constructor_Bacteria
Back to ETH Zurich main page.
