Scientists create programming language for cells

Scientists have developed a programming language with which cells can be controlled. This works because the written code is converted into a strand of DNA, which is then placed in the cells.

The technology was developed by the authoritative MIT and published in the scientific journal Science. According to Christopher Voigt, who works as a professor at the institute, it is literally a programming language: you can write text-based commands and then ‘compile’ it. This means that the commands are converted into a DNA strand, which contains the same coded instructions. The strand of DNA is then introduced into the cell, after which it will read the programmed genes.

MIT has successfully applied the cell programming technique in E. coli bacteria. In experiments, a high success rate was achieved: 92 percent of the built-in functions worked as predicted in advance. These are biological circuits built with different types of functions. The largest biological circuit ever built was also built, according to the researchers. It has seven logic gates and is made with 12,000 DNA building blocks. In time, the programming language must also become ‘compatible’ with other types of bacteria.

In the past, scientists have also been building chips based on DNA. In research institutes in California and Israel, for example, a biological computer was built with DNA strands. Because DNA contains coded messages for building proteins, there is a lot of interest from biologists in building biological chips. The programming language developed by MIT may make building such systems easier. That’s also because the creators plan to make the design interface available to everyone.

A web interface should soon appear that will allow users to program their own commands. They do not need to have knowledge of genetics for this. The researchers promise a user-friendly tool that can be used without experience.