Programming Living Cells to Function as Massively Parallel Computers

We have reprogrammed the genomes of living cells to construct massively parallel biological computers capable of processing two-dimensional images at a theoretical resolution of greater than 100 megapixels per square inch. First, we rewired a signal transduction pathway in Escherichia coli to express a pigment producing enzyme under the control of red light. We then use the engineered bacteria as pixels in biological film. Next, use the 'bacterial photography' technology as tool for the engineering of a massively parallel biological computer which uses cell-cell communication to compute the edges (light-dark boundaries) within images.