Image via Frangipane et al., Università di Roma “Sapienza” (CC-BY-4.0)

Scientists have recreated Leonardo da Vinci’s famous Mona Lisa with an interesting medium: genetically modified E. coli bacteria.

Researchers at the Sapiezna University of Rome attempted to combine characteristics from different bacterial species in hopes of being able to control large groups of microorganisms. The goal is to one day build tiny transport devices using bacteria as “bricks.”

The team attached cellular “solar panels” from a separate race of microorganisms to the”tails” of the E. coli bacteria. The more light that the bacteria was introduced to, the faster their tails would move.

The painting is proof of the experiment working. The scientists had successfully controlled the E. coli bacteria using light to create the shape of the Mona Lisa.

Other artworks birthed from this project include portraits of Albert Einstein and Charles Darwin.

Of course, the experiment didn’t come without its challenges. The bacteria were slow to react to light and produced grainy images. These problems were soon resolved, and the fact that the little artists have got the Mona Lisa’s enigmatic smile down pat is pretty impressive.

Video via Frangipane et al., Università di Roma “Sapienza” (CC-BY-4.0)

Image via Frangipane et al., Università di Roma “Sapienza” (CC-BY-4.0)

[via Gizmodo, video and images via Frangipane et al., Università di Roma “Sapienza” (CC-BY-4.0)]

‘Mona Lisa’ & Albert Einstein’s Portrait Get Impressively Recreated By… Bacteria
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August 22, 2018 at 09:12PM
via TAXI Daily News http://www.designtaxi.com/news/401163/Mona-Lisa-Albert-Einstein-s-Portrait-Get-Impressively-Recreated-By-Bacteria/