Animation showing an example of the use of synthetic biology, to create bacteria engineered to detect the presence of parasites. This bacterium contains both its own DNA green helix and an artificial part blue that codes for the production of surface proteins circles and other internal structures. These proteins are tailored to detect the presence of Schistosoma parasites pink, the cause of the tropical disease schistosomiasis. When the parasites are detected, the internal structures change the colour of the bacteria to red. Engineering bacteria normally present in the water in high_risk regions could provide a warning to people that the water is contaminated by the parasites, as it would turn red in their presence.