PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Rivera-Tarazona, L. K. AU - Bhat, V. D. AU - Kim, H. AU - Campbell, Z. T. AU - Ware, T. H. TI - Shape-morphing living composites AID - 10.1126/sciadv.aax8582 DP - 2020 Jan 01 TA - Science Advances PG - eaax8582 VI - 6 IP - 3 4099 - http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/3/eaax8582.short 4100 - http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/3/eaax8582.full SO - Sci Adv2020 Jan 01; 6 AB - This work establishes a means to exploit genetic networks to create living synthetic composites that change shape in response to specific biochemical or physical stimuli. Baker’s yeast embedded in a hydrogel forms a responsive material where cellular proliferation leads to a controllable increase in the composite volume of up to 400%. Genetic manipulation of the yeast enables composites where volume change on exposure to l-histidine is 14× higher than volume change when exposed to d-histidine or other amino acids. By encoding an optogenetic switch into the yeast, spatiotemporally controlled shape change is induced with pulses of dim blue light (2.7 mW/cm2). These living, shape-changing materials may enable sensors or medical devices that respond to highly specific cues found within a biological milieu.