Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Synthetic Biology

Synthetic Biology

Synthetic biology is an interdisciplinary science that involves using principles from disciplines such as engineering, molecular biology, cell biology, and systems biology. It involves remodeling existing organisms from nature or constructing completely new synthetic organisms for applications such as protein or enzyme production, bioremediation, value-added macromolecule production, and the addition of desirable traits to crops, to name a few.
Golden rice
Golden rice is a genetically modified...

Reporter Genes

Reporter Genes

Reporter genes are a type of protein-coding gene that are often tagged to a gene of interest. Once inside a target cell, reporter genes usually produce visually identifiable characteristics like fluorescence and luminescence when expressed along with the gene of interest. Thus, reporter genes “report” the presence or absence of genes of interest in an organism, determine the gene expression pattern, or track the physical location of a DNA segment or protein in the cell.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Engineering Pseudomonas protegens as a Targeted Antifungal-Effector Delivery Chassis via Heterologous Type III Secretion System Reconstitution.

Microbial biotechnology·2026

Same author

Prospects and challenges in using engineered lactic acid bacteria in aquaculture applications.

Engineering microbiology·2026

Same author

Isolation and characterization of Avs-1, a bacteriophage effective against the aquaculture pathogen <i>Aeromonas veronii</i>.

Applied and environmental microbiology·2026

Same author

XopA: a novel type III secretion system effector in <i>Xenorhabdus</i> that modulates host cell responses through apoptosis, autophagy, and immune evasion.

Microbiology spectrum·2026

Same author

SXP01: a novel bacteriophage for combating <i>Shewanella xiamenensis</i> in aquaculture.

Frontiers in microbiology·2025

Same author

Engineering and Functional Expression of the Type III Secretion System in <i>Xenorhabdus</i>: Enhancing Insecticidal Efficacy and Expanding T3SE Libraries.

Journal of agricultural and food chemistry·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 16, 2026

A Multilayer Microfluidic Platform for the Conduction of Prolonged Cell-Free Gene Expression

A Multilayer Microfluidic Platform for the Conduction of Prolonged Cell-Free Gene Expression

Published on: October 6, 2019

Synthetic Gene Circuits Enable Sensing in Engineered Living Materials.

Yaxuan Cai¹, Yujie Wang², Shengbiao Hu¹

¹Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Molecular Biology, College of Life Science, Hunan Normal University, No. 36 Lushan Street, Changsha 410081, China.

|September 26, 2025

Summary

Engineered living materials (ELMs) use synthetic gene circuits to create smart sensors. These materials can detect various signals like chemicals and light for diverse applications.

Keywords:

biosensing engineered living materials gene circuits signal transduction

More Related Videos

Using Synthetic Biology to Engineer Living Cells That Interface with Programmable Materials

Using Synthetic Biology to Engineer Living Cells That Interface with Programmable Materials

Published on: March 9, 2017

Gene Digital Circuits Based on CRISPR-Cas Systems and Anti-CRISPR Proteins

Gene Digital Circuits Based on CRISPR-Cas Systems and Anti-CRISPR Proteins

Published on: October 18, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 16, 2026

A Multilayer Microfluidic Platform for the Conduction of Prolonged Cell-Free Gene Expression

A Multilayer Microfluidic Platform for the Conduction of Prolonged Cell-Free Gene Expression

Published on: October 6, 2019

Using Synthetic Biology to Engineer Living Cells That Interface with Programmable Materials

Using Synthetic Biology to Engineer Living Cells That Interface with Programmable Materials

Published on: March 9, 2017

Gene Digital Circuits Based on CRISPR-Cas Systems and Anti-CRISPR Proteins

Gene Digital Circuits Based on CRISPR-Cas Systems and Anti-CRISPR Proteins

Published on: October 18, 2022

Area of Science:

Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology
Materials Science

Background:

Engineered living materials (ELMs) combine living cells with synthetic matrices for adaptive systems.
Sensing ELMs are crucial for environmental monitoring, biomedicine, and smart infrastructure.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent advancements in sensing ELMs utilizing synthetic gene circuits.
To highlight how designed genetic circuits enable sensing and response to diverse environmental inputs.

Main Methods:

Focus on synthetic gene circuits for signal detection and response in ELMs.
Integration of genetically engineered microbial cells with hydrogels and scaffolds.
Classification of input signals by source and properties (chemical, light, thermal, mechanical, electrical).

Main Results:

Rationally designed genetic circuits enable ELMs to sense and respond to a wide range of stimuli.
Programmable signal transduction and tailored output behaviors are achieved through synthetic gene circuits.
Integration with hydrogels and scaffolds creates robust and tunable sensing platforms.

Conclusions:

Sensing ELMs powered by synthetic gene circuits offer significant potential for advanced applications.
Challenges remain in rational design and integration for next-generation ELMs.
Future opportunities lie in developing more sophisticated and responsive sensing materials.