SUPERNOVA
Synthetic Biology is a field that is changing both how we understand and engineer biology. Instead of adding/deleting one gene at a time the way we've done using genetic engineering techniques for 30 years, we are learning how to manipulate collections of genes to program entirely new behaviors in organisms that they do not normally do. These new behaviors could be the engineered production of fuels or medicines, or the ability to act as biosensors that detect different environmental conditions or treat disease.
The Supernova image below was created for A synchronized quorum of genetic clocks, Danino et al. Nature 2010, and since it looked like an exploding star, it became known as the "Supernova." The Supernova image won a BioEASI award, is shown in DK publishing's book "Big Ideas that Changed the World", and was displayed at the Koch Institute galleries at MIT.
Supernova image at the Koch Institute Gallery, 2014
Bacteria growing a microfluidic device harboring a genetic program to produce synchronized oscillations visualized by fluorescent proteins. Taken from Danino et al. Nature 2010