The researchers modified the genetic circuitry of the bacteria to enable them to find a Hamiltonian path in a three-node graph.

Bacteria that successfully solved the problem reported their success by fluorescing both red and green, resulting in yellow colonies.

Synthetic biology is the use of molecular biology techniques, engineering principles, and mathematical modelling to design and construct genetic circuits that enable living cells to carry out novel functions, said a MWSU release.

'The research provides yet another example of how powerful and dynamic synthetic biology can be. We used synthetic biology to solve mathematical problems; others find applications in medicine, energy and the environment. Synthetic biology has great potential in the real world,' said Jordan Baumgardner, recent graduate of Missouri Western and study co-author.