Abstract: An apparatus and methods for using biological material to discriminate an agent. In one embodiment of the present invention, the method includes the steps of providing at least one cell, exposing at least one cell to an agent, measuring the response of the cell to the agent in terms of a physical quantity related to at least one of the cellular physiological activities of the cell, and identifying the agent from the measured response. The method further includes the step of quantifying the agent from the measured response.

Abstract: A system and methods for discriminating an agent. In one embodiment of the present invention, the method includes the steps of (a) constructing a decision tree having a plurality of branches, each branch corresponding to at least one defined action, wherein each branch includes a plurality of successive branches, each successive branch corresponding to at least one defined action, (b) providing a conditioned environment sensitive to the agent, (c) obtaining data from response of the agent to the conditioned environment, (d) extracting features from the obtained data, (e) selecting a branch from the decision tree corresponding to the features, (f) performing on the features at least one defined action corresponding to the branch, (g) producing a classification of the agent, and (g) iteratively repeating steps of (d)-(g) until the agent is discriminated.