Synthetic Biology (IMAGE) Rice University Caption In previous research, Rice synthetic biologist Jeff Tabor and colleagues created colonies of light-sensitive bacteria that exhibited complex patterns when exposed to images, like this portrait of Albert Einstein. In coming research, Tabor and colleagues at Rice and University of Washington plan to insert genes that will allow the bacteria to grow into complex shapes on their own. Credit Matt Good and Jeff Tabor Usage Restrictions Must credit: License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.