Described herein is a recombinant
cell genetically modified to include a
gene cassette comprising a
promoter and one or more of a sequence for a
recombinase followed by a terminator, the
recombinase-terminator sequence being flanked by recognition sites specific for the
recombinase, and the cassette being activatable by an external stimulus. Also described are a method for determining the number of times the
cell has been activated by an external stimulus, and plastic or rubber or a mixture of plastics or rubber including the recombinant
cell, as well as a method for determining the number of times a plastic or rubber has been recycled. [Figure 1]