Student rocks MTV with logo made from deadly E coli bacteria

Published on Saturday 7 June 2008 19:48

FOR more than 25 years it has brought infectious tunes to people around the globe.

But now scientists at Edinburgh University have created a new MTV logo – made up entirely of the potentially deadly E coli bug.

The project is the brainchild of Edinburgh College of Art student Ross Colquhoun and will go on public display this month.

Staff at the School of Biological Sciences at Edinburgh University helped out after being contacted by the 24-year-old.

Colquhoun's project was commissioned by cable music channel MTV, but now he plans to exhibit it as part of his college degree show. He said: "I was given the task of designing an ident for MTV and decided to create the logo out of E coli bacteria. To me the idea epitomised the dangerous, on-the-edge ethic of MTV."

"I was lucky enough to be put in contact with Professor Chris French at Edinburgh University who was really helpful.

"He stated that E coli growth in the shape of the logo would not be a problem."

Colquhoun recorded the process – which involved growing fluorescent genetically modified bacteria in a Petri dish – using a time-lapse camera in a room used for minor radiation experiments.

"My intention is not to glamorise or celebrate E coli, but to highlight its dangers," he said.

The design has not so far been used by MTV.