Microorganisms 'draw' pictures

Flower paintings and microbiology. A term unfamiliar to you? Maybe, because it is a very new idea of ​​the research group Pham Thanh Ho, Ho Bao Thuy Quyen and Mr. Thi Anh Phuong: ' painting ' with colorful microorganisms.

'Although there was an initial success, drawing flower patterns, small pictures . with many strains of microorganisms, but our group had to do many more experiments to dare to speak with certainty' - team leader Research, Associate Prof. Dr. Pham Thanh Ho, belonging to the Department of Microbiology (Department of Biology, University of Natural Sciences - National University of Ho Chi Minh City), said.

Thuy Quyen revealed more: the microorganisms used for painting or petals . must be safe, not harmful to people, and are also rich and diverse microorganisms, possibly easy to find and receive from nature.

Mr. Thi Anh Phuong (left) and Ho Bao Thuy Quyen in the laboratory (Photo: TTO)

Associate Prof. Dr. Pham Thanh Ho said that the ability of a number of microorganisms to multiply the number and color of many species is an ideal condition to turn them into materials to create works of artistic value.'We mutated a number of microorganisms with ultraviolet rays, with chemicals . to obtain different types of microorganisms' - Mr. Tiger ' revealed '. According to him, from microorganisms with green color can cause mutations so they put on their shiny yellow; and the milk-white microorganism can cause mutations to produce light red .

The backdrop of microbiological paintings is pieces of agar jelly (jelly) or coconut jelly that researchers - artists can take the initiative. It will be a small landscape picture, a cute piglet, a cute frog, the shape of flowers and fruits; Or it could be the words happy birthday, happy new year . Tiny microorganisms will be ' transplanted ' on agar agar or coconut jelly and thanks to this environment they proliferate very quickly . After only 3-4 days, the microbiological group will cover the contours of the work according to the pre-set patterns, with the colors of the author's wishes.

Dong Ho pig painting is ' painted ' with microorganisms (photo: TTO)

Even a way ahead. The group of microbiologists is still looking for the process of 'drawing' how to have the highest quality and longest-preserved work, as well as hunting for more suitable strains of painting as a painting material!

One of the ' candidates ' that the group is investing in is Chlorella green algae rich in protein, essential amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, vitamins .

This microalgae species is currently used as a raw material for making medicines, cosmetics and foods against malnutrition.Chlorella has two main types of pigment: chlorophyll and carotenoid (carrot color).But the chlorophyll dominates, so the Chlorella micro-green is very characteristic.

Another ' candidate ' is equally bright and very close to . housewives are wine yeast species.Usually yeast rice wine is milky white but can be affected by mutagenic techniques to put them on light red.Meanwhile, the yeast strain has the scientific name Rhodotorula glutinis with pink pigment .

QUOC THANH