3D Printing Using Genetically Modified Bacteria and Orange Juice

Science

BannerThis post is coming to you live from the Elephant & Castle Mini Maker Faire being held today at the London College of Communication.

The JuicyPrint prototype—here the redder light indicates where the cellulose wouldn't be growing, and the bluer light is where the cellulose would. In this case the 3d bio-printer would be printing an 'H' symbol.
The JuicyPrint prototype—here the redder light indicates where the cellulose wouldn’t be growing, and the bluer light is where it would. In this case the 3d bio-printer would be printing an ‘H’ symbol.

While the field is still fairly quiet right now, biohacking is the next big thing. There’s a grown segment of the maker movement that is talking about it, but not just that, they’re getting on and doing it.

I talked to Ilya Levantis from the London Biohackspace about JuicyPrint a 3d printer that can be fed with fruit juice and used to print out useful shapes made of bacterial cellulose using a genetically engineered strain of cellulose producing bacteria.

The G. hansenii (Gluconacetobacter hansenii) bacteria that the London Biohackspace is using is a  is able to grow on a wide range of  things like fruit juice, tea or even brewing waste. Once completed, building objects with the new printer will require only a computer, and a local a trip to your local market for supplies.

The Elephant & Castle Mini Maker Faire is being held at the London College of Communication from 10am till 6pm. Entry is free to children (under 16) and students, tickets are £5 otherwise and available on the door.

16 thoughts on “3D Printing Using Genetically Modified Bacteria and Orange Juice

  1. 3D Printing Using Genetically Modified Bacteria and Orange Juice | Salute says:

    […] Read more on MAKE […]

  2. rea5245 says:

    The Wall Street Journal has had several articles about how fewer people are drinking orange juice and the industry is hurting.

    It’s nice to see someone has come up with a way to aid our orange farmers.

    :-) :-) :-)

  3. JuicyPrint: 3D Printer Which Only Uses Fruit Juice, Bacteria & Light Could Have Huge Benefits Within Medicine - 3DPrint.com says:

    […] this could have, not only on the biohacking community, but on society as a whole. Levantis tells Makezine that they have proven the system to work, but are still waiting for “paperwork” to be […]

  4. David Rosier says:

    Was the audio sped up or something? I think he needs to try decaf. The thought of amateur gene splicing gives me pause. Of course gene splicing could give me paws.

  5. This 3D Printer Produces Biopolymers From Orange Juice And Bacteria | Gizmodo Australia says:

    […] MAKE’s Alasdair Allan reports, the bacteria responds to light and by carefully timing the pattern and frequency of exposure, you can theoretically get the little guys to pump out cellulose in a precise manner. Repeat this […]

  6. Future 3D Printers Could Use Orange Juice And GM Bacteria | Lifehacker Australia says:

    […] MAKE’s Alasdair Allan reports, the bacteria responds to light and by carefully timing the pattern and frequency of exposure, you can theoretically get the little guys to pump out cellulose in a precise manner. Repeat this […]

  7. JuicyPrint: 3D Printer Which Only Uses Fruit Juice, Bacteria & Light Could … – 3DPrint.com | 3d printer supplies now says:

    […] this could have, not only on the biohacking community, but on society as a whole. Levantis tells Makezine that they have proven the system to work, but are still waiting for “paperwork” to be […]

  8. Jenny Everywhere says:

    OMG! He’s trying to corner the Frozen Concentrated Orange Juice market! http://youtu.be/RLySXTIBS3c

  9. Elephant and Castle Mini Maker Faire | London Biohackspace says:

    […] Check out the Make: interview with Ilya Levantis from the event here. […]

  10. The Elephant & Castle Roundup | MAKE says:

    […] Talking to Ilya Levantis from the London Biohackspace about JuicyPrint. […]

  11. Lastest Best Selling E Juice News - EJuice Supplier says:

    […] years by Americans&#39. Growing aversion to products with high sugar content. One 8-ounce glass of orange juice contains about 22 grams of sugar, … Read more on Wall Street […]

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Alasdair Allan is a scientist, author, hacker and tinkerer, who is spending a lot of his time thinking about the Internet of Things. In the past he has mesh networked the Moscone Center, caused a U.S. Senate hearing, and contributed to the detection of what was—at the time—the most distant object yet discovered.

View more articles by Alasdair Allan

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