Prof. Timothy Lu, a synthetic biologist at MIT, draws on his combined expertise in computer programming, electrical engineering, and microbiology, to envision as an entirely new way of practicing preventative medicine.
The idea is that capsules packed with tiny electronics and genetically engineered living cells will eventually be used to spot health problems from inside the gut. Early signs of cancer could be detected without the need for a colonoscopy.
In this LLAMA podcast interview with Peter Bowes, Prof. Lu explains the principles of synthetic biology and why he believes it could help us all live healthier, longer lives.