Ribosome-based gene circuit lets cells read six signals and trigger responses

The molecular machinery that normally builds proteins inside cells has now taken on a new role as a “switch.” A research team at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) has developed a new ‘RNA-based smart gene circuit’ platform that can simultaneously read multiple signals inside a cell, make its own decisions and autonomously generate programmed responses. This represents a step beyond simple genetic manipulation toward an era in which cells themselves function as “living computers.”