Robust multicellular computing using genetically encoded NOR gates and chemical ‘wires’

This is another Tabor paper that involves quorum sensing in E. coli as a means to communicate logic gate outputs of engineered bacteria. Here, they expand upon their earlier work in making functional logic gates by successfully creating the more complex XOR gate and EQUALS function. Also, their colonies are arranged in a manner like a circuit board with the molecular outputs of the logic gates playing the roles of wires. So, desired computational outcomes can be generated by the system by calculated addition or subtraction of distinct E. coli colonies with one discrete gate function.