Using Biological Engineered Living Materials (ELMs) to Create Functional Materials with Genetically Programmable Properties

In their recently published article in the journal ACS Synthetic Biology, Charlie Gilbert and Tom Ellis review recent efforts in the emerging field of biological engineered living materials (ELMs) in which cells are programmed to produce new and useful biological materials with unique properties. The review focuses on the ability to engineer microbial systems to grow materials on new genetic circuits which are functional, dynamic and patterned.