Japanese scientists are engaged in training smart bacteria

In the framework of laying puzzles similar to Sudoku style grids, now, bacteria are able to solve logical problems, suggesting the possibility of their training. Japanese scientists are engaged in training smart bacteria

According to the head of the research team, Ryo Taniuchi, the puzzles are simple rules, so it was suggested that the bacteria cope with the conundrum. They were able to set up a special traffic scheme.

The Panel conducted an experiment with 16 kinds of bacteria. For each colony was secured certain genetic characteristics, depending on what type of cell in the puzzle box it held. Also, bacteria are aligned with colors, identical numbers in a cage.

Scientists have pushed bacteria in the cells differentiate, taking one of four colors. Then the bacteria by using RNA-recombinase (class of enzymes capable of recombination of DNA) sends information about its location and color value undifferentiated bacteria in the remaining cells.

The genetic information stored in these “messages” does not allow bacteria to differentiate and become the same color as the bacteria-transmitters. Thus, undifferentiated bacteria determine what color to take to solve the problem.

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