geekStarter Community Highlights – August 2017
Our iGEM teams got a lot done over the past few weeks. Check out their recent updates!
- UCalgary iGEM 2017
Project: Improving waste management on space missions by using genetically engineered bacteria to turn human waste into bioplastics
Our human practices outreach efforts have been picking up steam, as we have decided to build on previous Alberta iGEM teams’ efforts and create an updated version of a manual instructing members of high schools and postsecondary institutions in the practical matters of starting an iGEM team. We want our manual, which will take the form of a video series, to be a real-world connection between the academic and public spheres, and encourage public participation in building the scientific body of knowledge. Our policy analysis also focuses on barriers which may impede access to synthetic biology and providing sound recommendations which will alleviate these barriers. We envision this to be an important area for research with connections to the feasibility and impact of our project. Since a long-term space mission will be a collaborative effort between several nations, it becomes important to ensure that access to information and technology is equal across the world.
We have other public engagement events planned for a more immediate way to increase local participation in science. On September 14, iGEM Calgary is partnering with TELUS Spark at the Adults Only Night to engage the broader public about the limitless applications of synthetic biology. In addition, we will be hosting an informal event for members of the public at a local venue, Home and Away YYC, to raise awareness about iGEM and synthetic biology.
Our process development team is focussed on creating a streamlined, low-maintenance design for our system which encompasses the entire process, from waste management to plastic production to 3D printing. They have been using a synthetic analogue for human faeces from a NASA recipe in their experiments, which currently involve developing a way of extracting a liquid feedstock high in volatile fatty acids from the solid human waste.
The process team’s experiments with NASA synthetic feces! The recipe for synthetic feces includes cellulose, oils, and miso paste.
The genetic engineering teams are hard at work transforming cells with our parts. We are using a bioplastic production part from the Tokyo 2012 iGEM team in order to have a frame of reference for what our parts should be capable of producing. By comparing our parts to existing parts, we can better characterize both systems.
In the near future, our team will be looking to run experiments to prove that our system can work as one continuous process. We will be quantifying our bioplastic production to compare our system with previously designed parts and to provide compelling evidence that this technology should be implemented on long-term space missions.
- ULethbridge iGEM 2017
Project: Developing cell-free transcription and translation systems that are affordable, versatile, and easy-to-use
The wetlab group has been focused on cloning 27 of our constructs into vectors and putting them inside the bacteria. We have also designed and submitted our remaining constructs to be synthesized by Twist Bioscience, and performed control test expressions for 4 of our proteins so far. These will be used as a benchmark to determine how well our constructs work in comparison to our lab standard. We are getting our parts ready for submission to the iGEM registry, and we will soon begin over-expressing our proteins. We were successful at introducing the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) into liposomes and are continuing to optimize this process as model for our system. We aim to be ready to put our transcription / translation (Tx/Tl) system into liposomes once we have successfully over-expressed all of our proteins.
ULethbridge iGEM team advisor Taylor Sheahan talks to team members in the lab
We have also begun modeling in order to predict how to effectively combine our proteins into a single vector. This will serve to simplify the process of creating our cell-free expression platform and allow widespread use of our system in prototyping, bioremediation and a variety of other applications.
We have contacted stakeholder groups such as New England Biolabs (NEB) and Amino Labs to discuss our proposed Tx/Tl system. NEB has agreed to provide us with their commercial Tx/Tl system at a discounted rate, and we will use it as a standard to compare our system to. Amino Labs is excited about our project as well as it promises to provide them with a safer system to use within their educational tool.
On the fundraising front, we have reached out to the Student Union at our university, and have been working on the Quality Initiatives Program (QIP) application requesting $7 000 to cover team travel costs to the Giant Jamboree in Boston. To acquire additional travel funds, a carwash has been organized in September. Finally, we have set up a kickstarter account as a means for community members to support our iGEM team.
To practice our poster presentation skills, we presented a poster of our project at the Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute (ARRTI) Annual General Meeting (AGM). This also gave us the opportunity to discuss our work and, as a result, we were able to better focus and refine our project.
ULethbridge iGEM team members practice their poster presentation skills at the AGM of Alberta Research and Training Institute
- Lethbridge High-School iGEM 2017
Project: Making environmentally-friendly pigments for the printing industry
In the lab, we are making progress with our initial cloning experiments, and hope to have our DNA parts ligated into the standard iGEM vector soon. The next step will be to put our parts into bacteria and start producing the color pigments. At the same time, we have been employing our recently acquired coding skills and are currently working on designing the layout for our wiki.
Lethbridge HS iGEM team member doing wetlab work
Team faculty advisor Brian Dempsey (centre) with two team members during wetlab session
In an effort to inform the community about our project, we have put in a request to speak at a Lethbridge City Council meeting, and to have a public display set up in our City Hall at the end of August.
We have also contributed to the first issue of the Canadian iGEM Newsletter initiated by the iGEM team from University of Calgary, and we are currently working on our submission for the second issue of this newletter.
- UAlberta iGEM 2017
Project: Developing a buoyancy-based screening system for protein-protein interactions in E. coli
After many attempts, the team has successfully built two of the main constructs to be used in their wetlab investigations. The first construct is a modified version of an adenylate cyclase bacterial two-hybrid system, where two originally separated, commercial vectors were combined. Currently, the team is trying to characterize this construct with a fluorescent protein reporter. The second construct is a gas vesicle generator which is intended to confer buoyancy to bacteria. At the moment, the team is developing a method for the detection of buoyancy in liquid bacterial culture.
UAlberta iGEM team members doing wetlab experiments
Aside from their own project-oriented wetlab experiments, the team has initiated the iGEM’s InterLab Study protocols. There was much difficulty in transforming the bacteria with the InterLab devices provided by iGEM, to the extent that the team ran out of stock for two of those devices. Only after a request for new samples and another transformation attempt, in collaboration with team UrbanTundra, were the protocols successful. Having successfully amplified and purified all the devices, which now show improved transformation efficiency, the team is keen to collaborate and share the DNA for the InterLab Study, as well as their expertise, to help other iGEM teams that have similar difficulties.
Bioart piece from the August 12 event put on by UAlberta iGEM team at Telus World of Science in Edmonton
As part of their community outreach efforts, on August 12th the team put on an event called “Paint. Grow. Glow!” held at the Telus World of Science. The goal of this event, where visitors could paint with fluorescent bacteria, was to highlight to the public that microorganisms are not inherently harmful and can actually do many cool things, such as fluoresce. Team members had a really great time interacting with the public and sharing their love for synthetic biology. The event produced some great pieces of bioart and inspired the team to organize another follow-up event at the Telus World of Science in October! Check out this video about the event created by team member Abhi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKUagV2gqCk
Team UAlberta members shared their love of synthetic biology with the public at Telus World of Science on August 12
- UrbanTundra High-School iGEM 2017
Project: Increasing the potential for Mars colonization through the remediation of Martian soil and generation of useful by-products
This past month has been filled with progress on all fronts, be it within the team’s research, engineering, or public engagement endeavours.
In the lab, the research team has marched closer towards their goals, and intends to keep building on this momentum as the Giant Jamboree comes closer. Although they have run into a few hiccups with the gene sequence and their transformations, the team continues to push forward with their research. Currently, they are redesigning one of their gene sequences in order to better control the rate of production of a particular enzyme needed in their project. The team has also commenced the InterLab Study, a bronze medal requirement for this year’s iGEM teams. On this task, they are working closely with the UAlberta iGEM students, who have graciously shared access to their equipment. In fact, with mentorship from the UAlberta team, the UrbanTundra students are determined to not only complete their portion of the InterLab Study by the end of the month, but also make progress on their own construct.
Urban Tundra team member doing wetlab experimental work
To test their bio-remediation process, the team has been researching and designing a model bioreactor using CAD software. Building on this research and after the design is finalized, they will move on to creating a prototype bioreactor in real life. The team is also investigating whether waste products from the bioreactor, including dead bacteria, could be used as growth medium within an agricultural setting. To this end, they have constructed a hydroponics set-up within a greenhouse space generously provided by Harry Ainlay High School – as shown in this video. In the following weeks, the team will seek feedback on the bioreactor and hydroponics set-up from industry stakeholders, which they will use to refine and improve their system.
Urban Tundra team’s newly set up hydroponics will help them improve the sustainability of their bio-remediation system
On the fundraising and community engagement front, the team has been working hard to collect items for their silent auction on August 25th at the Castle Downs Family YMCA in Edmonton. At this event, they will be presenting several workshops throughout the evening to educate parents, teens, and children about synthetic biology. Team members have also been collecting bottles from businesses, and distributing flyers for an upcoming team’s bottle drive. And, last but not least, the team has completed most components that will be featured on their Crowd.Science fundraising page and plan to launch this fundraising campaign at the beginning of September.