Sensing array of radically coupled genetic biopixels

While there has been significant progress in the development of engineering principles for synthetic biology, a substantial challenge is the construction of robust circuits in a noisy cellular environment. Such an environment leads to considerable intercellular variability in circuit behavior, which can hinder functionality at the colony level. Here, we engineer the synchronization of thousands of oscillating colony “biopixels” over centimetre length scales through the use of synergistic intercellular coupling involving quorum sensing within a colony and gas-phase redox signaling between colonies. We use this platform to construct an LCD-like macroscopic clock that can be used to sense arsenic via modulation of the oscillatory period. Given the repertoire of sensing capabilities of bacteria such as E. coli, the ability to coordinate their behavior over large length scales sets the stage for the construction of low cost genetic biosensors that are capable of detecting heavy metals and pathogens in the field.