Scientists at the University of Nottingham are taking on an extremely ambitious project involving the creation and implementation of "reprogrammable cells". They are trying to create the cellular equivalent of a computer operating system. If the project becomes successful, scientists will be able to synthetically create new organisms previously non-existent in nature. The researchers on the project are starting off with an attempt to more easily program e.coli bacteria. The programmable cells could potentially be altered to a specific function without having to create a new cell from scratch. These could lead to the development of new microorganisms that could aid in medical advancements as well as contribute to many other societal applications, such as cleansing water or enhancing food production.
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