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Hamsters Versus Bacteria


Bacteria on the top of the photo and a hamster on the bottom




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Who would win in a competition, a hamster or bacteria? Place your bets! This episode tells the story of an epic science showdown. The stakes are high. Danielle Tullman-Ercek is a synthetic biologist trying to find a better way to make life-saving medicine. To do it, she’s engineering a bacteria cell to compete with a medicine-making hamster cell. Listen to find out what if Danielle and her bacteria have what it takes to win. What’s a hamster cell doing making medicine, anyway?!


More About Synthetic Biology!

Synthetic biology is a relatively new field of biology. Scientists believe it's opening new possibilities in how we produce materials and medicine.

But what is it? This video explains how synthetic biology works, with a company that's using the technology to engineer scents.

We have another episode about synthetic biology, and how it can be used to make biofuel.

Synthetic biology has also provided a new tool for artists! Lindsay helped produce this Studio 360 episode about how science and art are combining to "design" life.

Synthetic Biology News

Here's a few recent headlines about how scientists are using synthetic biology.

New York Times article explaining the story behind de-extinction

A new company is engineering a better fertilizer with microbes

Microbes for national defense?


Eat bread again, thanks to engineered biology!


Design Your Own Bacteria

If you were to engineer a bacteria cell, what would it do? Dream it, design it, draw it! Send it to us at tumblepodcast@gmail.com. We'd love to share it with our listeners!

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