Join the next #EUSynBioSeminar and hear Jung Hun Park from the University of Lausanne give a talk titled "From resonance to chaos: modulating spatiotemporal patterns through a synthetic optogenetic oscillator.”

Oscillations are a recurrent phenomenon in biological systems across scales, but deciphering their fundamental principles is very challenging. Here, we tackle this challenge by redesigning the well characterised synthetic oscillator known as “repressilator” in Escherichia coli and controlling it using optogenetics. Bacterial colonies manifest oscillations as spatial ring patterns. When we apply periodic light pulses, the optogenetic repressilator (optoscillator) behaves as a forced oscillator and we systematically investigate the properties of the rings under various light conditions. Combining experiments with mathematical modeling, we demonstrate that this simple oscillatory circuit can generate complex dynamics that are transformed into distinct spatial patterns. We report the observation of synchronisation, resonance, subharmonic resonance and period doubling. Furthermore, we present evidence of a chaotic regime.

Register here to join us on the 12th of December at 16:00 CET