IGEM:JohnsHopkins/2008/Ideas/BioThermometer

By utilizing the ability of extremophiles to exist in a such a huge range of temperatures, we could utilize a pathway that would be temperature sensitive.

This would allow the attachment of sort of indicator molecule to the pathway, and thus indicate a specific temperature range. There have been studies on temperature dependent protein synthesis, in Antarctic and temperate fishes (of the family Zoarcidae), as well as studies on Temperature-Regulated Protein Synthesis by Leptospira interrogans (a pathogenic bacteria), that could be viable systems in the engineering of such a tool.

More research must be done on the actual targeting of these temperature dependent biosynthetic pathways.