FURI | Summer 2020

Directed Evolution for Biological Sensors

Health icon, disabled. A red heart with a cardiac rhythm running through it.

Complex synthetic biology methods demand the integration of continuous culture, directed evolution, and positive/negative selection methods. To achieve this in a single platform, the research team built an open source multiplexed bioreactor (eVOLVER) and modified it to function as a directed evolution system. Modifications include a turbidostat, for continuous feed of bacteria into experiments, and a two-lagoon system, allowing for both positive and negative selection. The team has developed a theoretical system that is currently being implemented to create the physical system. Once established, this technology will be the basis for next generation biological sensors and bioactive proteins.

Student researcher

Maren C Eltze

Biomedical engineering

Hometown: Tucson, Arizona, United States

Graduation date: Spring 2021