Social Spotlight: Engineered Cells as a Shoebox

Scientists often face a challenge in explaining their highly technical research to the general public.

NIST chemical engineer Sam Schaffter, who studies nucleic acid computing and RNA-based strand displacement, made a go at it using the arts and crafts supplies he found lying around his and several colleagues’ homes.  

The box is an E. coli cell, one of the planet’s most common types of bacteria. The pipe cleaners are strands of genetic material: The red ones are RNA, and the dark brown one on the shoebox’s bottom is DNA. The letters represent nucleotides, the building blocks of genetic codes, and the blue fuzzy balls are proteins.

Schaffter’s research aims to insert synthesized DNA into existing cells, reprogramming them to carry out new functions. The approach could one day be used to design cells to fight diseases inside our bodies.

While he’s making great progress on his science, he’s not so sure he’s got his shoebox right yet. Maybe he should use popsicle sticks or googly eyes. All (constructive and scientifically accurate) proposals welcome.