A new breed of chemical sensors is expected to make practical the monitoring of drinking water, groundwater and streams near industrial discharge sites. Bioluminescent bioreporter integrated circuits developed by researchers in the Instrumentation and Controls Division and the University of Tennessee combine genetically engineered bacteria with low-cost micro-electronics technology. Because the sensing element is a living cell, it detects not only the presence of a targeted substance but also whether it can be taken up by living organisms. This helps scientists determine health consequences arising from exposure to the substance. The chips' small size allows it to be used in areas where analytical instruments would be impractical.
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