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# Syn City
- URL: https://www.protein.xyz/syn-city/
- Published: 2013-02-13T12:26:53.000Z
- Updated: 2016-06-17T05:31:24.000Z
- Description: These artificial structures are built using a combination of 3D printing and synthetic bacteria.
- Author: Joe Iley
- Tags: Seeds, Art & Design, Technology, #protein, #Import 2024-06-11 13:15

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/S3/protein/3525/f81df32c-5b78-4d12-bf97-90581cf09bc9.jpg)

As we touched on earlier this week, when we looked at [3D printed stem cells](http://prote.in/feed/2013/02/3d-printed-stem-cells?ref=protein.xyz), the combination of 3D printing and synthetic biology seems to be on the rise. [Syn City](http://syncity.co.uk/Home?ref=protein.xyz), a collaboration between artist Jonathan Openshaw and synthetic biologists Ajioka and Orr Yarkoni sees a range of structures ‘grown’ using synthetic bacteria. Shaped using a 3D printed mesh frame, the bacteria had been modified to carry flurogenic and chromogenic proteins, meaning that the sculptures were able to glow and mix colours as they grew.

The idea being to introduce an element of chaos into the construction of these sculptures, yet at the same time display the impressive potential of artificial biology.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/S3/protein/3525/186d271e-3332-4639-949c-ab8e59708511.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/S3/protein/3525/aa70639f-5819-41d4-ac6f-9768eb0f5303.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/S3/protein/3525/2f0b8d7c-61ed-4beb-a40a-dfa210b21292.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/S3/protein/3525/e3d6babf-7cd3-48e5-ba04-6df5f50c7568.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/S3/protein/3525/fbe8905f-894d-4387-8a19-ae5525879ed3.jpg)