Running ‘Doom’ on E. coli cells… very, very slowly
A recent report, highlighted on Lobsters, details an experimental achievement where scientists successfully implemented a version of the video game 'Doom' on E. coli bacteria. Published on May 18, 2026, the research leverages synthetic biology to program E. coli cells to act as a computational medium. Instead of traditional electronic circuits, the game's logic and visual output are processed through genetic circuits and protein expressions within the bacterial colonies. The 'rendering' of a single frame, for instance, could take hours or even days, making the gameplay exceptionally slow and impractical for real-time interaction. This project serves as a significant proof-of-concept, illustrating that biological systems possess the inherent capacity for complex information processing and memory, far beyond their natural functions. While not intended for actual gaming, the experiment pushes the boundaries of bio-computing, exploring how living organisms can be engineered to perform computations, store data, and potentially interact with digital systems in entirely new ways.
This experiment demonstrates a frontier in biological computing, potentially inspiring developers to explore new paradigms for computation and data storage using living systems.