 Genepi is a new tool for non-invasively monitoring P8O1 activity in living cells and tissues. It can detect mechanical stimuli at the single cell level and measure their effects on P8O1-mediated signalling pathways in real time. This tool will allow researchers to study how P8O1 activity contributes to various physiological processes including development, homeostasis and disease. This article was authored by Saini Agnoglu, Konstantinos Coliviotis, Cristina Virginia Pantula and others.