Project Description

Kill switch mechanism

Landmines, rockets, aircrafts and data-storage devices are only some of the devices which use self-destruct mechanism in order to prevent damage to population or environment.

Much like those, genetically modified organisms pose a threat to the environment, and thus it makes sense to equip them with a similar mechanism.

Our project suggests such mechanism which functions as analogy to starving or to battery running out- the organism starts off with specific amount of "food" – AHL – and uses it up as it fulfills its role. Once the AHL runs out- "no more food", or "battery is empty" the organism generates toxin (ccdB) which kills it.

After specific amount of time, determined by the initial amount of AHL, the bacteria perform self-destruction preventing potential environmental damage.