Nintendo's Mario has taught us science and even encouraged the development of better artificial intelligence. So it's only appropriate that Japanese researchers paid homage to everyone's favorite video game character, by recreating his likeness in a petri dish with genetically engineered glow-in-the-dark bacteria. Warning: we reveal a seizure-inducing Mario animation after the story jump.
Team Osaka submitted their Mario likeness to the 2009 international Genetically Engineered Machine competition (iGEM). They combined standard DNA sequences known as BioBricks with their own special DNA snips to create franken-bacteria that express fluorescent proteins and carotenoid pigments.
You can gawk at this and other fine petri dish masterworks at this New Scientist gallery.
[via New Scientist]
8 Comments
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huh,
I saw the image in the RSS feed, before the jump.
GFP's purpose for existence is this, the creation of microscopic video games. I want to have my kids with these games genetically embedded into there left eye so they will never have to be bored.
finally!!!! science does something useful!!!
Damnit POPSCI! If only you told us that the new scientist gallary is seriously bugged! Just nearly avoided computer melt down! Dumb web. This thing is cool though.
I regret that the Japanese beat us to this because this is the sort of thing that I'd love to shake my head at and say "gee folks, there's your tax dollars at work!"
I regret that the Japanese beat us to this because this is the sort of thing that I'd love to shake my head at and say "gee folks, there's your tax dollars at work!"
I want to have my kids with these games genetically embedded into there left eye so they will never have to be bored.
www.eprostateproblems.com/