“Slave” Bacteria To Carry Out Useful Tasks Within Humans

The team is proposing that thousands of what it calls as biologically-derived robots or “biobots” or minicells would have microscopic features required on microprocessors. These gene chips would be remotely controlled to do different tasks, including, synthesis, repair, assembly and monitoring.

The research team envisions biobots to have no or limited ‘minigenome’ genome characteristics to execute specific tasks. These tasks may include navigating a chemical trail guided by their flagella or allowing the secretion of another chemical as they swim along within human bodies. The biobots, which can be frozen or thawed, cannot self-replicate. They can also live within 24 hours or more.