http://2012.igem.org/wiki/index.php?title=Special:Contributions&feed=atom&limit=250&target=Rkelwick&year=&month=2012.igem.org - User contributions [en]2024-03-19T04:37:07ZFrom 2012.igem.orgMediaWiki 1.16.0http://2012.igem.org/Regions/Europe/Jamboree/PracticeSessionsRegions/Europe/Jamboree/PracticeSessions2012-10-01T21:33:58Z<p>Rkelwick: </p>
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<h2>Practice Sessions</h2><br />
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<p>Use this sign-up sheet to sign up for a slot on Friday to practice your talk. Note that there will NOT be any audio/visual support on staff. All classrooms will be unlocked and you should use them and leave them as you found them.<br />
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<p> There are a limited number of time slots available on a first-come first-serve basis so please only choose one slot. We cannot match the room that you will ultimately give your presentation in with the practice room. This should, however, give you a chance to practice your talk in a new environment. Please keep in mind that there will be teams waiting to use the room after you, so make sure that your practice finishes on time. <br />
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<td>Eindhoven University of Technology</td><br />
<td>LMU-Munich</td><br />
<td>Technion</td><br />
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<td>TU Munich</td><br />
<td>Bielefeld-Germany</td><br />
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</html></div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Human_OutreachTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Human Outreach2012-09-26T23:04:52Z<p>Rkelwick: /* Creation of a futuristic company, Quanticare and production of a thought-provoking film */</p>
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<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
=Human Practices=<br />
<br />
<br />
The UEA NRP team really went up and beyond this year, carrying out a wide selection of activity's to inform the public of both synthetic biology and iGEM, aiming to raise awareness of this branch of science. We used many methods of communication in order to cater for a range of audiences, including a radio show, newspaper articles, pubic events and talks as well as collaborating with all the other UK teams, in order to organize the UK team meet up and steam it live on the internet. <br />
<br />
== iGEM collaborations==<br />
<br />
===The iGEM UK team meet up, hosted by the NRP-UEA team at Google campus London (Friday 17th August) The most open and publically accessible UK team meetup EVER===<br />
<br />
[[File:Hangout stats.png | center]]<br />
<br />
[[File:UKiGEMteams.jpg | 300px | right]]<br />
<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team organised and hosted the UK team meet up at Google campus in London. The NRPUEA iGEM team greeted the UK teams, provided refreshments and a lovely buffet lunch, as well as chairing the speeches and making sure the day ran smoothly. There was a great atmosphere at the meet up, and the event was a huge success.<br />
<br />
The day consisted of a number of guest speakers, including advice and tips for iGEM success from Dr. Tom Ellis (advisor of the 2009 winning iGEM project E.chromi) and an interactive talk on synthetic biology and science communication from the BBC science presenter, Nature editor and Guardian writer, Dr. Adam Rutherford. The UK iGEM teams presented a poster and a 15 minute presentation about their project. This gave the members of each team the chance to practice their presentation skills before the European team meet up, as well as a chance for others to ask questions and see what other project routes the other teams have taken. <br />
<br />
The event was also available '''LIVE on the internet''' via Google+ hangout, to allow the public and those that were unable to attend to still watch the presentations. Despite there being a few technical difficulties with the quality of the image, figures have shown that over 600 people watched the event.<br />
<br />
[https://dl.dropbox.com/u/9957127/UK%20iGEM%20Team%20Hangout%2017th%20Aug%202012%20Programme.pdf '''Click here for programme PDF''']<br />
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=== Communicating with other iGEM teams===<br />
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As part of our efforts to collaborate with the other iGEM teams this year we've made an effort to keep in contact with an array of iGEM teams. Here are some highlights:<br />
<br />
- We communicated with all of the UK iGEM teams via Twitter, Email, Facebook and Google+ before, during and after the UK team meet up.<br />
<br />
- We tweeted with many other iGEM teams from around the world and closely followed the iGEM community.<br />
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- We video called the St Andrews iGEM team via Google+ Hang-out to discuss our projects further as well as to seek advice about the arrangements for the UK team meet-up.<br />
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- Our advisor Richard Kelwick was interviewed by the Edinburgh iGEM team via Skype about our teams perspectives on public awareness and understanding of synthetic biology.<br />
<br />
- We visited the Cambridge team near the beginning of our project and they were kind enough to give us a tour of their labs. <br />
<br />
- Finally, the British Columbia team sent us a questionnaire about intellectual property that we happily filled out.<br />
<br />
==Public engagement==<br />
<br />
===The Future of Science event held at the forum, Norwich (Sunday 19th August)===<br />
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<br />
<br />
[[File:Forum_team.JPG | 300px| right]]<br />
<br />
<br />
The Forum is located at the heart of the city of Norwich, and hosts a wide range of free events and exhibits to be enjoyed by the whole community. The venue is packed with restaurants, cafes and shops, as well as being home to Norwich library and BBC East Anglia. <br />
<br />
[[File:Poster for Forum.jpg | 250px | left]]<br />
<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team were fortunate enough to hold an interactive day at the Forum, giving the public a chance to engage within the world of synthetic biology. Before the date of the event, the team increased awareness via a range of techniques, including posters, leaflets and newspaper and internet adverts, including the Forums website. This resulted with a large turnout at the event, including the local press. <br />
<br />
At the Future of Science event, the team presented a selection of informative posters, revealed their new film on a large screen, as well as showing examples of work carried out by the students during iGEM. For example, the public could view ''E.coli'' which had been transformed with GFP within a UV light box, as well as carrying out a counting colonies exercise. The NRPUEA team also created a range of synthetic biology educational material for the event, to inform the public of the concepts and terminology of synthetic biology. The different activities were designed to interest a selection of different ages. The educational resources include a range of quizzes and worksheets such as crosswords and matching exercises.<br />
<br />
[[File:Child_making_plasmid.jpg |300px | right]]<br />
<br />
For younger children we designed a colourful jigsaw plasmid (as seen in image). The idea of this activity was for the participants to choose jigsaw pieces that represented the genes that code for certain characteristics, such as green or red hair, and piece them together to form a complete plasmid. Once they had designed their plasmid they used a biscuit base, icing of different colours and various sweets to create a "biscuit creature" that corresponded to the plasmid they had created. The learning outcome of this activity was to give the children an understanding that a different selection of genes, results in different characteristics, and that editing the DNA can result in a change in the characteristics. The activity was very popular and most of the participants seemed to understand this concept, as well as having great fun.<br />
<br />
The event attracted a range of ages, as well as mixed levels of previous interest into synthetic biology. It also became clear that many members of the public knew very little about synthetic biology, and therefore were very interested in finding out more about the new branch of biology and the iGEM competition. The NRPUEA iGEM team also took the opportunity to talk to the public and listen to their opinions about the work the iGEM teams are carrying out, which demonstrated how mixed the view of the public were. The day was a huge success.<br />
<br />
'''Synthetic Biology activity sheets'''<br />
<br />
[[File:Word_Search_of_Synthetic_Biology.pdf]],<br />
[[File:Decode_Disney.pdf]],<br />
[[File:Questions_comprehensive.pdf]],[[File:Decode_Music_Artists_and_Films.pdf]],[[File:Word_Search_of_Synthetic_Biology.pdf]]<br />
<br />
=== Creation of a futuristic company, Quanticare and production of a thought-provoking film===<br />
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[[File:Tattoo1.png |300px]][[File:QuanticareLogo_(2).png |300px]][[File:Tattoo2.png |300px]]<br />
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<br />
As part of our human practices we decided to look into an artistic approach to bringing synthetic biology to a wider audience. As part of this we created "Quanticare", a fictitious and futuristic company forming on the back of a rise to prominence of synthetic biology over the next few years, as well as the results of our own projects on nitric oxide sensing and the comparator circuit. The fictitious company's latest development is to introduce a visual bio sensors in to the human body in the form of a tattoo-based health monitor, ''Cura''. <br />
<br />
<br />
Not only did the development of the fictitious company allow the team to explore potential future applications of synthetic biology and bio sensors, but also via the creation of a film , fuel a range of ethical questions. The team released the video on the day of the Wiki Freeze as well as bringing transferable tattoo samples of ''Cura'' to the European Jamboree as a form of marketing for the video and concept as a whole. <br />
<br />
<br />
The team also produced a film with Amy Congdon exploring ''Cura'' itself and its many applications. They decided to angle the film as a product launch in order to capture the imagination and bring Quanticare and ''Cura'' to the public as a realistic future involving synthetic biology. The film is available to view below, we thank the Biochemical Society for their outreach grant to fund this film.<br />
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<html><center><table width=100% cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 align=center><tr><td valign=absmiddle align=center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/StNFePmymbc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></td></tr></table></center></html><br />
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<br />
<html><font size=3pt><b>Please check out <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details!</b></font></html><br />
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<br><br />
<br />
Some initial feedback, the Quanticare video was launched less than 24 hours before the wiki freeze:<br />
<br />
-Blogged about on Biochemical Society blog<br />
-On UEA news pages <br />
-Mentioned in tweet from the BBSRC<br />
-Many likes and tweets<br />
<br />
-Some quotes <br />
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"Inspiring and Innovative" Global Strategist and Author @DeanneLawrence <br />
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"Great project. Good luck!" @SocratesLogos Synthetic Biologist<br />
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"Sooooooo cool!" Kimberley Hirst Jones UEA-JIC_Norwich iGEM 2011 team member<br />
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==Social Media==<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team has been VERY active on a range of social media over the summer.Any one is welcome to follow the team on Facebook or twitter. The team kept everyone updated on what was going on, both in the lab and in our spare time. This has been a great method of connecting with the public, companies,researchers, as well as getting in touch with other iGEM teams. The NRPUEA iGEM team believe human out reach via social media is important since it allows the public to follow the teams achievements and lab results, as well as providing an opportunity for members of the public to get to know the personality of the team members. The human stories behind science are crucial, informative and a powerful way to promote science in a positive light. Please follow us on twitter @NRPiGEM or UEA iGEM 2012 page on Facebook.<br />
<br />
===Twitter===<br />
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[[File:Twitter stats NRP iGEM.png]]<br />
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[[File:TweetReach_nrpigem.pdf| '''Download a PDF of our twitter statistics''']]<br />
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===Facebook===<br />
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Creating social media pages also allowed us to access information about who was checking our page out, showing interesting information, showing that social media techniques such as facebook attracted mostly 18-24 years olds interest, and that it attracted no attention from those above 65. Therefore the team thought it was important to promote our project, not only through the internet, but also other techniques such as newspaper articles and radio shows. <br />
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The figure bellow shows the age ranges and gender of people who liked any posts from the NRP UEA iGEM team<br />
[[File:Likes.png |600px| centre]]<br />
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Below is a list of the international locations that people liked our teams status updates from. This highlighted that whilst the majority of followers were located in Norwich, we also had followers from a range of places over the world, highlighting the importance of using such social media to reach these followers. <br />
[[File:Location_of_likes.png |600px| centre]]<br />
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As mentioned the NRP UEA iGEM team created facebook statuses and tweets very regularly and as the graph below shows, there was a consistent increase in action and interest in the NRPUEA iGEM team throughout the summer. <br />
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[[File:Posts_ratings.png |600px| centre]]<br />
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===Google+===<br />
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We championed the use of Google+, a new social network from Google. We encouraged the UK iGEM teams to utilise Google+ to help make the 2012 UK team meetup as open and accessible as possible.<br />
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==Media appearances==<br />
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===STAR Radio===<br />
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[http://www.star107.co.uk/farming-show.php STAR 107.9 FM's Farming Show]<br />
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[[Image:NRPSTARRadio.jpg | 300px | right]]<br />
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[http://www.star107.co.uk/podcasts/the-farming-show/show-23.mp3 Listen To Our Radio Show Appearence!]<br />
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In early July the team travelled to Cambridge to appear on STAR Radio's program: "The Farming Show". We were interviewed by Mark Peters (one of the presenters) about synthetic biology, iGEM and our project. The interview went really well as Pascoe and Khadija got across all of the information that was needed in a clear and concise way, and the presenter was extremely helpful in making sure all of the salient points of the project were brought out. <br />
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The team were able to give a brief description of what synthetic biology is before talking about the future applications of synthetic biology for medicine, agriculture and business. We were also able to mention our event at the Norwich Forum in late August in order to help promote it!<br />
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A big thanks goes out to all at STAR Radio 107.9 for their help with the project in setting up the interview and allowing us air time to discuss iGEM and synthetic biology. Please visit the link above to hear the radio show.<br />
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[[File:Paper.jpg|100px|left]]<br />
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===Newspapers===<br />
<br />
The team featured on the university website a few times through the summer, as well as a brief article in the Eastern daily press newspaper.This was great, as allowed the locals of Norwich to become aware not only of the team and iGEM, but also introduce many to the scientific branch of synthetic biology.<br />
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==Engagement with the wider scientific community==<br />
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=== The team presented at the John Innes Centre Synthetic Biology conference ===<br />
[[File:JIC.png|500px|right]]<br />
The John Innes Center (JIC) is a world leading center of plant research, the home of UEAs 2011 team, and part of the Norwich Research Park (NRP). Researchers at the JIC recognized that synthetic biology was an important field and therefore hosted a synthetic biology conference. The aim of the day was to enhance local researchers' knowledge of what synthetic biology is, and highlight projects in which synthetic biology is currently being used. When the team was invited to give a talk to the JIC researchers we were extremely excited. At the talk we gave an over view of what iGEM is, our project and how it developed over the summer, as well informing them about aspects of human practice. The team had carried out over the summer. the team took also showed them a clip of our futuristic applications film. We enjoyed presenting our work and results, as well having an opportunity to improve our presentation skills before the European jamboree. There seemed to be a real interest by the researchers in to our project, and the advice given was encouraging giving encouraging advice. The researchers also seemed very interested to hear more about our human practices elements of iGEM, wanting to know what we had discovered about the public's opinion our research. More than anything, researchers at the John Innes Centre couldn't believe that we were undergraduate students who had been working together for 10 weeks!<br />
<br />
The NRP iGEM teams are helping to foster collaborations between scientists across the NRP and have begun to create a sense of community amongst NRP synthetic biologists.<br />
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===SGM microbiology synthetic biology (September 3rd -5th)===<br />
<br />
The society of general microbiology held a 3 day synthetic biology conference at the University of Warwick. Three members of the UEA NRP iGEM team were lucky enough to go and enjoy talks on streptococcus, molecular motors, and the dynamics of the genome and designer microbes. The event also gave the team member the opportunity to meet other synthetic biology scientists as well as informing them of the current advances in the field and inspiring them with the future possibilities. The event also allowed the team members to present a poster and therefore engage with the scientific community, both informing them more about the iGEM competition and our project . The team believed it was important for the scientists in the synthetic biology world to have the opportunity to meet undergraduate iGEM members, allowing them to express the skills it has allowed them to develop and to encourage further interest in to lab groups forming teams, and funding iGEM projects.<br />
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=== The Biochemical Society kindly mentioned us in their blog post ===<br />
<br />
Not only did the Biochemical Society generously fund our project, they also were kind enough to feature our teams efforts in an encouraging ethical debate around the subject of synthetic biology (via our Quanticare video) in their blog.<br />
<br />
[http://biochemicalsociety.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/exploring-ethical-dilemmas-of-synthetic-biology-with-the-nrp-uea-norwich-igem-team/ '''Click here to view the blog post''']<br />
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This post was also seen by the BBSRC, who very kindly tweeted about it!<br />
<br />
[[File:BBSRC.png | centre | 600px]]</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Human_OutreachTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Human Outreach2012-09-26T23:04:06Z<p>Rkelwick: /* Creation of a futuristic company, Quanticare and production of a thought-provoking film */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
=Human Practices=<br />
<br />
<br />
The UEA NRP team really went up and beyond this year, carrying out a wide selection of activity's to inform the public of both synthetic biology and iGEM, aiming to raise awareness of this branch of science. We used many methods of communication in order to cater for a range of audiences, including a radio show, newspaper articles, pubic events and talks as well as collaborating with all the other UK teams, in order to organize the UK team meet up and steam it live on the internet. <br />
<br />
== iGEM collaborations==<br />
<br />
===The iGEM UK team meet up, hosted by the NRP-UEA team at Google campus London (Friday 17th August) The most open and publically accessible UK team meetup EVER===<br />
<br />
[[File:Hangout stats.png | center]]<br />
<br />
[[File:UKiGEMteams.jpg | 300px | right]]<br />
<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team organised and hosted the UK team meet up at Google campus in London. The NRPUEA iGEM team greeted the UK teams, provided refreshments and a lovely buffet lunch, as well as chairing the speeches and making sure the day ran smoothly. There was a great atmosphere at the meet up, and the event was a huge success.<br />
<br />
The day consisted of a number of guest speakers, including advice and tips for iGEM success from Dr. Tom Ellis (advisor of the 2009 winning iGEM project E.chromi) and an interactive talk on synthetic biology and science communication from the BBC science presenter, Nature editor and Guardian writer, Dr. Adam Rutherford. The UK iGEM teams presented a poster and a 15 minute presentation about their project. This gave the members of each team the chance to practice their presentation skills before the European team meet up, as well as a chance for others to ask questions and see what other project routes the other teams have taken. <br />
<br />
The event was also available '''LIVE on the internet''' via Google+ hangout, to allow the public and those that were unable to attend to still watch the presentations. Despite there being a few technical difficulties with the quality of the image, figures have shown that over 600 people watched the event.<br />
<br />
[https://dl.dropbox.com/u/9957127/UK%20iGEM%20Team%20Hangout%2017th%20Aug%202012%20Programme.pdf '''Click here for programme PDF''']<br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
<html><align=center><br />
<table align=center width=100% cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0><br />
<tr><br />
<td valign=absmiddle align=center><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Kv_Z14OIrKc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
</align><br />
</html><br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
=== Communicating with other iGEM teams===<br />
<br />
As part of our efforts to collaborate with the other iGEM teams this year we've made an effort to keep in contact with an array of iGEM teams. Here are some highlights:<br />
<br />
- We communicated with all of the UK iGEM teams via Twitter, Email, Facebook and Google+ before, during and after the UK team meet up.<br />
<br />
- We tweeted with many other iGEM teams from around the world and closely followed the iGEM community.<br />
<br />
- We video called the St Andrews iGEM team via Google+ Hang-out to discuss our projects further as well as to seek advice about the arrangements for the UK team meet-up.<br />
<br />
- Our advisor Richard Kelwick was interviewed by the Edinburgh iGEM team via Skype about our teams perspectives on public awareness and understanding of synthetic biology.<br />
<br />
- We visited the Cambridge team near the beginning of our project and they were kind enough to give us a tour of their labs. <br />
<br />
- Finally, the British Columbia team sent us a questionnaire about intellectual property that we happily filled out.<br />
<br />
==Public engagement==<br />
<br />
===The Future of Science event held at the forum, Norwich (Sunday 19th August)===<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Forum_team.JPG | 300px| right]]<br />
<br />
<br />
The Forum is located at the heart of the city of Norwich, and hosts a wide range of free events and exhibits to be enjoyed by the whole community. The venue is packed with restaurants, cafes and shops, as well as being home to Norwich library and BBC East Anglia. <br />
<br />
[[File:Poster for Forum.jpg | 250px | left]]<br />
<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team were fortunate enough to hold an interactive day at the Forum, giving the public a chance to engage within the world of synthetic biology. Before the date of the event, the team increased awareness via a range of techniques, including posters, leaflets and newspaper and internet adverts, including the Forums website. This resulted with a large turnout at the event, including the local press. <br />
<br />
At the Future of Science event, the team presented a selection of informative posters, revealed their new film on a large screen, as well as showing examples of work carried out by the students during iGEM. For example, the public could view ''E.coli'' which had been transformed with GFP within a UV light box, as well as carrying out a counting colonies exercise. The NRPUEA team also created a range of synthetic biology educational material for the event, to inform the public of the concepts and terminology of synthetic biology. The different activities were designed to interest a selection of different ages. The educational resources include a range of quizzes and worksheets such as crosswords and matching exercises.<br />
<br />
[[File:Child_making_plasmid.jpg |300px | right]]<br />
<br />
For younger children we designed a colourful jigsaw plasmid (as seen in image). The idea of this activity was for the participants to choose jigsaw pieces that represented the genes that code for certain characteristics, such as green or red hair, and piece them together to form a complete plasmid. Once they had designed their plasmid they used a biscuit base, icing of different colours and various sweets to create a "biscuit creature" that corresponded to the plasmid they had created. The learning outcome of this activity was to give the children an understanding that a different selection of genes, results in different characteristics, and that editing the DNA can result in a change in the characteristics. The activity was very popular and most of the participants seemed to understand this concept, as well as having great fun.<br />
<br />
The event attracted a range of ages, as well as mixed levels of previous interest into synthetic biology. It also became clear that many members of the public knew very little about synthetic biology, and therefore were very interested in finding out more about the new branch of biology and the iGEM competition. The NRPUEA iGEM team also took the opportunity to talk to the public and listen to their opinions about the work the iGEM teams are carrying out, which demonstrated how mixed the view of the public were. The day was a huge success.<br />
<br />
'''Synthetic Biology activity sheets'''<br />
<br />
[[File:Word_Search_of_Synthetic_Biology.pdf]],<br />
[[File:Decode_Disney.pdf]],<br />
[[File:Questions_comprehensive.pdf]],[[File:Decode_Music_Artists_and_Films.pdf]],[[File:Word_Search_of_Synthetic_Biology.pdf]]<br />
<br />
=== Creation of a futuristic company, Quanticare and production of a thought-provoking film===<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Tattoo1.png |300px]][[File:QuanticareLogo_(2).png |300px]][[File:Tattoo2.png |300px]]<br />
<br />
<br />
As part of our human practices we decided to look into an artistic approach to bringing synthetic biology to a wider audience. As part of this we created "Quanticare", a fictitious and futuristic company forming on the back of a rise to prominence of synthetic biology over the next few years, as well as the results of our own projects on nitric oxide sensing and the comparator circuit. The fictitious company's latest development is to introduce a visual bio sensors in to the human body in the form of a tattoo-based health monitor, ''Cura''. <br />
<br />
<br />
Not only did the development of the fictitious company allow the team to explore potential future applications of synthetic biology and bio sensors, but also via the creation of a film , fuel a range of ethical questions. The team released the video on the day of the Wiki Freeze as well as bringing transferable tattoo samples of ''Cura'' to the European Jamboree as a form of marketing for the video and concept as a whole. <br />
<br />
<br />
The team also produced a film with Amy Congdon exploring ''Cura'' itself and its many applications. They decided to angle the film as a product launch in order to capture the imagination and bring Quanticare and ''Cura'' to the public as a realistic future involving synthetic biology. The film is available to view below, we thank the Biochemical Society for their outreach grant to fund this film.<br />
<br />
<html><center><table width=100% cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 align=center><tr><td valign=absmiddle align=center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/StNFePmymbc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></td></tr></table></center></html><br />
<br />
<br />
<html><font size=3pt><b>Please check out out <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details!</b></font></html><br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
Some initial feedback, the Quanticare video was launched less than 24 hours before the wiki freeze:<br />
<br />
-Blogged about on Biochemical Society blog<br />
-On UEA news pages <br />
-Mentioned in tweet from the BBSRC<br />
-Many likes and tweets<br />
<br />
-Some quotes <br />
<br />
"Inspiring and Innovative" Global Strategist and Author @DeanneLawrence <br />
<br />
"Great project. Good luck!" @SocratesLogos Synthetic Biologist<br />
<br />
"Sooooooo cool!" Kimberley Hirst Jones UEA-JIC_Norwich iGEM 2011 team member<br />
<br />
==Social Media==<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team has been VERY active on a range of social media over the summer.Any one is welcome to follow the team on Facebook or twitter. The team kept everyone updated on what was going on, both in the lab and in our spare time. This has been a great method of connecting with the public, companies,researchers, as well as getting in touch with other iGEM teams. The NRPUEA iGEM team believe human out reach via social media is important since it allows the public to follow the teams achievements and lab results, as well as providing an opportunity for members of the public to get to know the personality of the team members. The human stories behind science are crucial, informative and a powerful way to promote science in a positive light. Please follow us on twitter @NRPiGEM or UEA iGEM 2012 page on Facebook.<br />
<br />
===Twitter===<br />
<br />
[[File:Twitter stats NRP iGEM.png]]<br />
<br />
[[File:TweetReach_nrpigem.pdf| '''Download a PDF of our twitter statistics''']]<br />
<br />
===Facebook===<br />
<br />
Creating social media pages also allowed us to access information about who was checking our page out, showing interesting information, showing that social media techniques such as facebook attracted mostly 18-24 years olds interest, and that it attracted no attention from those above 65. Therefore the team thought it was important to promote our project, not only through the internet, but also other techniques such as newspaper articles and radio shows. <br />
<br />
The figure bellow shows the age ranges and gender of people who liked any posts from the NRP UEA iGEM team<br />
[[File:Likes.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
Below is a list of the international locations that people liked our teams status updates from. This highlighted that whilst the majority of followers were located in Norwich, we also had followers from a range of places over the world, highlighting the importance of using such social media to reach these followers. <br />
[[File:Location_of_likes.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
As mentioned the NRP UEA iGEM team created facebook statuses and tweets very regularly and as the graph below shows, there was a consistent increase in action and interest in the NRPUEA iGEM team throughout the summer. <br />
<br />
[[File:Posts_ratings.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
===Google+===<br />
<br />
We championed the use of Google+, a new social network from Google. We encouraged the UK iGEM teams to utilise Google+ to help make the 2012 UK team meetup as open and accessible as possible.<br />
<br />
==Media appearances==<br />
<br />
===STAR Radio===<br />
<br />
[http://www.star107.co.uk/farming-show.php STAR 107.9 FM's Farming Show]<br />
<br />
[[Image:NRPSTARRadio.jpg | 300px | right]]<br />
<br />
[http://www.star107.co.uk/podcasts/the-farming-show/show-23.mp3 Listen To Our Radio Show Appearence!]<br />
<br />
In early July the team travelled to Cambridge to appear on STAR Radio's program: "The Farming Show". We were interviewed by Mark Peters (one of the presenters) about synthetic biology, iGEM and our project. The interview went really well as Pascoe and Khadija got across all of the information that was needed in a clear and concise way, and the presenter was extremely helpful in making sure all of the salient points of the project were brought out. <br />
<br />
The team were able to give a brief description of what synthetic biology is before talking about the future applications of synthetic biology for medicine, agriculture and business. We were also able to mention our event at the Norwich Forum in late August in order to help promote it!<br />
<br />
A big thanks goes out to all at STAR Radio 107.9 for their help with the project in setting up the interview and allowing us air time to discuss iGEM and synthetic biology. Please visit the link above to hear the radio show.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Paper.jpg|100px|left]]<br />
<br />
===Newspapers===<br />
<br />
The team featured on the university website a few times through the summer, as well as a brief article in the Eastern daily press newspaper.This was great, as allowed the locals of Norwich to become aware not only of the team and iGEM, but also introduce many to the scientific branch of synthetic biology.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
==Engagement with the wider scientific community==<br />
<br />
=== The team presented at the John Innes Centre Synthetic Biology conference ===<br />
[[File:JIC.png|500px|right]]<br />
The John Innes Center (JIC) is a world leading center of plant research, the home of UEAs 2011 team, and part of the Norwich Research Park (NRP). Researchers at the JIC recognized that synthetic biology was an important field and therefore hosted a synthetic biology conference. The aim of the day was to enhance local researchers' knowledge of what synthetic biology is, and highlight projects in which synthetic biology is currently being used. When the team was invited to give a talk to the JIC researchers we were extremely excited. At the talk we gave an over view of what iGEM is, our project and how it developed over the summer, as well informing them about aspects of human practice. The team had carried out over the summer. the team took also showed them a clip of our futuristic applications film. We enjoyed presenting our work and results, as well having an opportunity to improve our presentation skills before the European jamboree. There seemed to be a real interest by the researchers in to our project, and the advice given was encouraging giving encouraging advice. The researchers also seemed very interested to hear more about our human practices elements of iGEM, wanting to know what we had discovered about the public's opinion our research. More than anything, researchers at the John Innes Centre couldn't believe that we were undergraduate students who had been working together for 10 weeks!<br />
<br />
The NRP iGEM teams are helping to foster collaborations between scientists across the NRP and have begun to create a sense of community amongst NRP synthetic biologists.<br />
<br />
===SGM microbiology synthetic biology (September 3rd -5th)===<br />
<br />
The society of general microbiology held a 3 day synthetic biology conference at the University of Warwick. Three members of the UEA NRP iGEM team were lucky enough to go and enjoy talks on streptococcus, molecular motors, and the dynamics of the genome and designer microbes. The event also gave the team member the opportunity to meet other synthetic biology scientists as well as informing them of the current advances in the field and inspiring them with the future possibilities. The event also allowed the team members to present a poster and therefore engage with the scientific community, both informing them more about the iGEM competition and our project . The team believed it was important for the scientists in the synthetic biology world to have the opportunity to meet undergraduate iGEM members, allowing them to express the skills it has allowed them to develop and to encourage further interest in to lab groups forming teams, and funding iGEM projects.<br />
<br />
=== The Biochemical Society kindly mentioned us in their blog post ===<br />
<br />
Not only did the Biochemical Society generously fund our project, they also were kind enough to feature our teams efforts in an encouraging ethical debate around the subject of synthetic biology (via our Quanticare video) in their blog.<br />
<br />
[http://biochemicalsociety.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/exploring-ethical-dilemmas-of-synthetic-biology-with-the-nrp-uea-norwich-igem-team/ '''Click here to view the blog post''']<br />
<br />
This post was also seen by the BBSRC, who very kindly tweeted about it!<br />
<br />
[[File:BBSRC.png | centre | 600px]]</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Human_OutreachTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Human Outreach2012-09-26T23:03:33Z<p>Rkelwick: /* Creation of a futuristic company, Quanticare and production of a thought-provoking film */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
=Human Practices=<br />
<br />
<br />
The UEA NRP team really went up and beyond this year, carrying out a wide selection of activity's to inform the public of both synthetic biology and iGEM, aiming to raise awareness of this branch of science. We used many methods of communication in order to cater for a range of audiences, including a radio show, newspaper articles, pubic events and talks as well as collaborating with all the other UK teams, in order to organize the UK team meet up and steam it live on the internet. <br />
<br />
== iGEM collaborations==<br />
<br />
===The iGEM UK team meet up, hosted by the NRP-UEA team at Google campus London (Friday 17th August) The most open and publically accessible UK team meetup EVER===<br />
<br />
[[File:Hangout stats.png | center]]<br />
<br />
[[File:UKiGEMteams.jpg | 300px | right]]<br />
<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team organised and hosted the UK team meet up at Google campus in London. The NRPUEA iGEM team greeted the UK teams, provided refreshments and a lovely buffet lunch, as well as chairing the speeches and making sure the day ran smoothly. There was a great atmosphere at the meet up, and the event was a huge success.<br />
<br />
The day consisted of a number of guest speakers, including advice and tips for iGEM success from Dr. Tom Ellis (advisor of the 2009 winning iGEM project E.chromi) and an interactive talk on synthetic biology and science communication from the BBC science presenter, Nature editor and Guardian writer, Dr. Adam Rutherford. The UK iGEM teams presented a poster and a 15 minute presentation about their project. This gave the members of each team the chance to practice their presentation skills before the European team meet up, as well as a chance for others to ask questions and see what other project routes the other teams have taken. <br />
<br />
The event was also available '''LIVE on the internet''' via Google+ hangout, to allow the public and those that were unable to attend to still watch the presentations. Despite there being a few technical difficulties with the quality of the image, figures have shown that over 600 people watched the event.<br />
<br />
[https://dl.dropbox.com/u/9957127/UK%20iGEM%20Team%20Hangout%2017th%20Aug%202012%20Programme.pdf '''Click here for programme PDF''']<br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
<html><align=center><br />
<table align=center width=100% cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0><br />
<tr><br />
<td valign=absmiddle align=center><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Kv_Z14OIrKc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
</align><br />
</html><br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
=== Communicating with other iGEM teams===<br />
<br />
As part of our efforts to collaborate with the other iGEM teams this year we've made an effort to keep in contact with an array of iGEM teams. Here are some highlights:<br />
<br />
- We communicated with all of the UK iGEM teams via Twitter, Email, Facebook and Google+ before, during and after the UK team meet up.<br />
<br />
- We tweeted with many other iGEM teams from around the world and closely followed the iGEM community.<br />
<br />
- We video called the St Andrews iGEM team via Google+ Hang-out to discuss our projects further as well as to seek advice about the arrangements for the UK team meet-up.<br />
<br />
- Our advisor Richard Kelwick was interviewed by the Edinburgh iGEM team via Skype about our teams perspectives on public awareness and understanding of synthetic biology.<br />
<br />
- We visited the Cambridge team near the beginning of our project and they were kind enough to give us a tour of their labs. <br />
<br />
- Finally, the British Columbia team sent us a questionnaire about intellectual property that we happily filled out.<br />
<br />
==Public engagement==<br />
<br />
===The Future of Science event held at the forum, Norwich (Sunday 19th August)===<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Forum_team.JPG | 300px| right]]<br />
<br />
<br />
The Forum is located at the heart of the city of Norwich, and hosts a wide range of free events and exhibits to be enjoyed by the whole community. The venue is packed with restaurants, cafes and shops, as well as being home to Norwich library and BBC East Anglia. <br />
<br />
[[File:Poster for Forum.jpg | 250px | left]]<br />
<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team were fortunate enough to hold an interactive day at the Forum, giving the public a chance to engage within the world of synthetic biology. Before the date of the event, the team increased awareness via a range of techniques, including posters, leaflets and newspaper and internet adverts, including the Forums website. This resulted with a large turnout at the event, including the local press. <br />
<br />
At the Future of Science event, the team presented a selection of informative posters, revealed their new film on a large screen, as well as showing examples of work carried out by the students during iGEM. For example, the public could view ''E.coli'' which had been transformed with GFP within a UV light box, as well as carrying out a counting colonies exercise. The NRPUEA team also created a range of synthetic biology educational material for the event, to inform the public of the concepts and terminology of synthetic biology. The different activities were designed to interest a selection of different ages. The educational resources include a range of quizzes and worksheets such as crosswords and matching exercises.<br />
<br />
[[File:Child_making_plasmid.jpg |300px | right]]<br />
<br />
For younger children we designed a colourful jigsaw plasmid (as seen in image). The idea of this activity was for the participants to choose jigsaw pieces that represented the genes that code for certain characteristics, such as green or red hair, and piece them together to form a complete plasmid. Once they had designed their plasmid they used a biscuit base, icing of different colours and various sweets to create a "biscuit creature" that corresponded to the plasmid they had created. The learning outcome of this activity was to give the children an understanding that a different selection of genes, results in different characteristics, and that editing the DNA can result in a change in the characteristics. The activity was very popular and most of the participants seemed to understand this concept, as well as having great fun.<br />
<br />
The event attracted a range of ages, as well as mixed levels of previous interest into synthetic biology. It also became clear that many members of the public knew very little about synthetic biology, and therefore were very interested in finding out more about the new branch of biology and the iGEM competition. The NRPUEA iGEM team also took the opportunity to talk to the public and listen to their opinions about the work the iGEM teams are carrying out, which demonstrated how mixed the view of the public were. The day was a huge success.<br />
<br />
'''Synthetic Biology activity sheets'''<br />
<br />
[[File:Word_Search_of_Synthetic_Biology.pdf]],<br />
[[File:Decode_Disney.pdf]],<br />
[[File:Questions_comprehensive.pdf]],[[File:Decode_Music_Artists_and_Films.pdf]],[[File:Word_Search_of_Synthetic_Biology.pdf]]<br />
<br />
=== Creation of a futuristic company, Quanticare and production of a thought-provoking film===<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Tattoo1.png |300px]][[File:QuanticareLogo_(2).png |300px]][[File:Tattoo2.png |300px]]<br />
<br />
<br />
As part of our human practices we decided to look into an artistic approach to bringing synthetic biology to a wider audience. As part of this we created "Quanticare", a fictitious and futuristic company forming on the back of a rise to prominence of synthetic biology over the next few years, as well as the results of our own projects on nitric oxide sensing and the comparator circuit. The fictitious company's latest development is to introduce a visual bio sensors in to the human body in the form of a tattoo-based health monitor, ''Cura''. <br />
<br />
<br />
Not only did the development of the fictitious company allow the team to explore potential future applications of synthetic biology and bio sensors, but also via the creation of a film , fuel a range of ethical questions. The team released the video on the day of the Wiki Freeze as well as bringing transferable tattoo samples of ''Cura'' to the European Jamboree as a form of marketing for the video and concept as a whole. <br />
<br />
<br />
The team also produced a film with Amy Congdon exploring ''Cura'' itself and its many applications. They decided to angle the film as a product launch in order to capture the imagination and bring Quanticare and ''Cura'' to the public as a realistic future involving synthetic biology. The film is available to view below, we thank the Biochemical Society for their outreach grant to fund this film.<br />
<br />
<html><center><table width=100% cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 align=center><tr><td valign=absmiddle align=center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/StNFePmymbc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></td></tr></table></center></html><br />
<br />
<br />
<html><font size=3pt><b>Please check out out <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details!</b></font></html><br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
Some initial feedback, the Quanticare video was launched less than 24 hours before the wiki freeze:<br />
<br />
-Blogged about on Biochemical Society blog<br />
-On UEA news pages <br />
-Mentioned in tweet from the BBSRC<br />
-Many likes and tweets<br />
<br />
-Some quotes <br />
<br />
"Inspiring and Innovative" Global Strategist and Author @DeanneLawrence <br />
"Great project. Good luck!" @SocratesLogos Synthetic Biologist<br />
<br />
"Sooooooo cool!" Kimberley Hirst Jones UEA-JIC_Norwich iGEM 2011 team member<br />
<br />
==Social Media==<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team has been VERY active on a range of social media over the summer.Any one is welcome to follow the team on Facebook or twitter. The team kept everyone updated on what was going on, both in the lab and in our spare time. This has been a great method of connecting with the public, companies,researchers, as well as getting in touch with other iGEM teams. The NRPUEA iGEM team believe human out reach via social media is important since it allows the public to follow the teams achievements and lab results, as well as providing an opportunity for members of the public to get to know the personality of the team members. The human stories behind science are crucial, informative and a powerful way to promote science in a positive light. Please follow us on twitter @NRPiGEM or UEA iGEM 2012 page on Facebook.<br />
<br />
===Twitter===<br />
<br />
[[File:Twitter stats NRP iGEM.png]]<br />
<br />
[[File:TweetReach_nrpigem.pdf| '''Download a PDF of our twitter statistics''']]<br />
<br />
===Facebook===<br />
<br />
Creating social media pages also allowed us to access information about who was checking our page out, showing interesting information, showing that social media techniques such as facebook attracted mostly 18-24 years olds interest, and that it attracted no attention from those above 65. Therefore the team thought it was important to promote our project, not only through the internet, but also other techniques such as newspaper articles and radio shows. <br />
<br />
The figure bellow shows the age ranges and gender of people who liked any posts from the NRP UEA iGEM team<br />
[[File:Likes.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
Below is a list of the international locations that people liked our teams status updates from. This highlighted that whilst the majority of followers were located in Norwich, we also had followers from a range of places over the world, highlighting the importance of using such social media to reach these followers. <br />
[[File:Location_of_likes.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
As mentioned the NRP UEA iGEM team created facebook statuses and tweets very regularly and as the graph below shows, there was a consistent increase in action and interest in the NRPUEA iGEM team throughout the summer. <br />
<br />
[[File:Posts_ratings.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
===Google+===<br />
<br />
We championed the use of Google+, a new social network from Google. We encouraged the UK iGEM teams to utilise Google+ to help make the 2012 UK team meetup as open and accessible as possible.<br />
<br />
==Media appearances==<br />
<br />
===STAR Radio===<br />
<br />
[http://www.star107.co.uk/farming-show.php STAR 107.9 FM's Farming Show]<br />
<br />
[[Image:NRPSTARRadio.jpg | 300px | right]]<br />
<br />
[http://www.star107.co.uk/podcasts/the-farming-show/show-23.mp3 Listen To Our Radio Show Appearence!]<br />
<br />
In early July the team travelled to Cambridge to appear on STAR Radio's program: "The Farming Show". We were interviewed by Mark Peters (one of the presenters) about synthetic biology, iGEM and our project. The interview went really well as Pascoe and Khadija got across all of the information that was needed in a clear and concise way, and the presenter was extremely helpful in making sure all of the salient points of the project were brought out. <br />
<br />
The team were able to give a brief description of what synthetic biology is before talking about the future applications of synthetic biology for medicine, agriculture and business. We were also able to mention our event at the Norwich Forum in late August in order to help promote it!<br />
<br />
A big thanks goes out to all at STAR Radio 107.9 for their help with the project in setting up the interview and allowing us air time to discuss iGEM and synthetic biology. Please visit the link above to hear the radio show.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Paper.jpg|100px|left]]<br />
<br />
===Newspapers===<br />
<br />
The team featured on the university website a few times through the summer, as well as a brief article in the Eastern daily press newspaper.This was great, as allowed the locals of Norwich to become aware not only of the team and iGEM, but also introduce many to the scientific branch of synthetic biology.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
==Engagement with the wider scientific community==<br />
<br />
=== The team presented at the John Innes Centre Synthetic Biology conference ===<br />
[[File:JIC.png|500px|right]]<br />
The John Innes Center (JIC) is a world leading center of plant research, the home of UEAs 2011 team, and part of the Norwich Research Park (NRP). Researchers at the JIC recognized that synthetic biology was an important field and therefore hosted a synthetic biology conference. The aim of the day was to enhance local researchers' knowledge of what synthetic biology is, and highlight projects in which synthetic biology is currently being used. When the team was invited to give a talk to the JIC researchers we were extremely excited. At the talk we gave an over view of what iGEM is, our project and how it developed over the summer, as well informing them about aspects of human practice. The team had carried out over the summer. the team took also showed them a clip of our futuristic applications film. We enjoyed presenting our work and results, as well having an opportunity to improve our presentation skills before the European jamboree. There seemed to be a real interest by the researchers in to our project, and the advice given was encouraging giving encouraging advice. The researchers also seemed very interested to hear more about our human practices elements of iGEM, wanting to know what we had discovered about the public's opinion our research. More than anything, researchers at the John Innes Centre couldn't believe that we were undergraduate students who had been working together for 10 weeks!<br />
<br />
The NRP iGEM teams are helping to foster collaborations between scientists across the NRP and have begun to create a sense of community amongst NRP synthetic biologists.<br />
<br />
===SGM microbiology synthetic biology (September 3rd -5th)===<br />
<br />
The society of general microbiology held a 3 day synthetic biology conference at the University of Warwick. Three members of the UEA NRP iGEM team were lucky enough to go and enjoy talks on streptococcus, molecular motors, and the dynamics of the genome and designer microbes. The event also gave the team member the opportunity to meet other synthetic biology scientists as well as informing them of the current advances in the field and inspiring them with the future possibilities. The event also allowed the team members to present a poster and therefore engage with the scientific community, both informing them more about the iGEM competition and our project . The team believed it was important for the scientists in the synthetic biology world to have the opportunity to meet undergraduate iGEM members, allowing them to express the skills it has allowed them to develop and to encourage further interest in to lab groups forming teams, and funding iGEM projects.<br />
<br />
=== The Biochemical Society kindly mentioned us in their blog post ===<br />
<br />
Not only did the Biochemical Society generously fund our project, they also were kind enough to feature our teams efforts in an encouraging ethical debate around the subject of synthetic biology (via our Quanticare video) in their blog.<br />
<br />
[http://biochemicalsociety.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/exploring-ethical-dilemmas-of-synthetic-biology-with-the-nrp-uea-norwich-igem-team/ '''Click here to view the blog post''']<br />
<br />
This post was also seen by the BBSRC, who very kindly tweeted about it!<br />
<br />
[[File:BBSRC.png | centre | 600px]]</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Human_OutreachTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Human Outreach2012-09-26T22:56:26Z<p>Rkelwick: /* The Biochemical Society kindly mentioned us in their blog post */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
=Human Practices=<br />
<br />
<br />
The UEA NRP team really went up and beyond this year, carrying out a wide selection of activity's to inform the public of both synthetic biology and iGEM, aiming to raise awareness of this branch of science. We used many methods of communication in order to cater for a range of audiences, including a radio show, newspaper articles, pubic events and talks as well as collaborating with all the other UK teams, in order to organize the UK team meet up and steam it live on the internet. <br />
<br />
== iGEM collaborations==<br />
<br />
===The iGEM UK team meet up, hosted by the NRP-UEA team at Google campus London (Friday 17th August) The most open and publically accessible UK team meetup EVER===<br />
<br />
[[File:Hangout stats.png | center]]<br />
<br />
[[File:UKiGEMteams.jpg | 300px | right]]<br />
<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team organised and hosted the UK team meet up at Google campus in London. The NRPUEA iGEM team greeted the UK teams, provided refreshments and a lovely buffet lunch, as well as chairing the speeches and making sure the day ran smoothly. There was a great atmosphere at the meet up, and the event was a huge success.<br />
<br />
The day consisted of a number of guest speakers, including advice and tips for iGEM success from Dr. Tom Ellis (advisor of the 2009 winning iGEM project E.chromi) and an interactive talk on synthetic biology and science communication from the BBC science presenter, Nature editor and Guardian writer, Dr. Adam Rutherford. The UK iGEM teams presented a poster and a 15 minute presentation about their project. This gave the members of each team the chance to practice their presentation skills before the European team meet up, as well as a chance for others to ask questions and see what other project routes the other teams have taken. <br />
<br />
The event was also available '''LIVE on the internet''' via Google+ hangout, to allow the public and those that were unable to attend to still watch the presentations. Despite there being a few technical difficulties with the quality of the image, figures have shown that over 600 people watched the event.<br />
<br />
[https://dl.dropbox.com/u/9957127/UK%20iGEM%20Team%20Hangout%2017th%20Aug%202012%20Programme.pdf '''Click here for programme PDF''']<br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
<html><align=center><br />
<table align=center width=100% cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0><br />
<tr><br />
<td valign=absmiddle align=center><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Kv_Z14OIrKc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
</align><br />
</html><br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
=== Communicating with other iGEM teams===<br />
<br />
As part of our efforts to collaborate with the other iGEM teams this year we've made an effort to keep in contact with an array of iGEM teams. Here are some highlights:<br />
<br />
- We communicated with all of the UK iGEM teams via Twitter, Email, Facebook and Google+ before, during and after the UK team meet up.<br />
<br />
- We tweeted with many other iGEM teams from around the world and closely followed the iGEM community.<br />
<br />
- We video called the St Andrews iGEM team via Google+ Hang-out to discuss our projects further as well as to seek advice about the arrangements for the UK team meet-up.<br />
<br />
- Our advisor Richard Kelwick was interviewed by the Edinburgh iGEM team via Skype about our teams perspectives on public awareness and understanding of synthetic biology.<br />
<br />
- We visited the Cambridge team near the beginning of our project and they were kind enough to give us a tour of their labs. <br />
<br />
- Finally, the British Columbia team sent us a questionnaire about intellectual property that we happily filled out.<br />
<br />
==Public engagement==<br />
<br />
===The Future of Science event held at the forum, Norwich (Sunday 19th August)===<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Forum_team.JPG | 300px| right]]<br />
<br />
<br />
The Forum is located at the heart of the city of Norwich, and hosts a wide range of free events and exhibits to be enjoyed by the whole community. The venue is packed with restaurants, cafes and shops, as well as being home to Norwich library and BBC East Anglia. <br />
<br />
[[File:Poster for Forum.jpg | 250px | left]]<br />
<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team were fortunate enough to hold an interactive day at the Forum, giving the public a chance to engage within the world of synthetic biology. Before the date of the event, the team increased awareness via a range of techniques, including posters, leaflets and newspaper and internet adverts, including the Forums website. This resulted with a large turnout at the event, including the local press. <br />
<br />
At the Future of Science event, the team presented a selection of informative posters, revealed their new film on a large screen, as well as showing examples of work carried out by the students during iGEM. For example, the public could view ''E.coli'' which had been transformed with GFP within a UV light box, as well as carrying out a counting colonies exercise. The NRPUEA team also created a range of synthetic biology educational material for the event, to inform the public of the concepts and terminology of synthetic biology. The different activities were designed to interest a selection of different ages. The educational resources include a range of quizzes and worksheets such as crosswords and matching exercises.<br />
<br />
[[File:Child_making_plasmid.jpg |300px | right]]<br />
<br />
For younger children we designed a colourful jigsaw plasmid (as seen in image). The idea of this activity was for the participants to choose jigsaw pieces that represented the genes that code for certain characteristics, such as green or red hair, and piece them together to form a complete plasmid. Once they had designed their plasmid they used a biscuit base, icing of different colours and various sweets to create a "biscuit creature" that corresponded to the plasmid they had created. The learning outcome of this activity was to give the children an understanding that a different selection of genes, results in different characteristics, and that editing the DNA can result in a change in the characteristics. The activity was very popular and most of the participants seemed to understand this concept, as well as having great fun.<br />
<br />
The event attracted a range of ages, as well as mixed levels of previous interest into synthetic biology. It also became clear that many members of the public knew very little about synthetic biology, and therefore were very interested in finding out more about the new branch of biology and the iGEM competition. The NRPUEA iGEM team also took the opportunity to talk to the public and listen to their opinions about the work the iGEM teams are carrying out, which demonstrated how mixed the view of the public were. The day was a huge success.<br />
<br />
'''Synthetic Biology activity sheets'''<br />
<br />
[[File:Word_Search_of_Synthetic_Biology.pdf]],<br />
[[File:Decode_Disney.pdf]],<br />
[[File:Questions_comprehensive.pdf]],[[File:Decode_Music_Artists_and_Films.pdf]],[[File:Word_Search_of_Synthetic_Biology.pdf]]<br />
<br />
=== Creation of a futuristic company, Quanticare and production of a thought-provoking film===<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Tattoo1.png |300px]][[File:QuanticareLogo_(2).png |300px]][[File:Tattoo2.png |300px]]<br />
<br />
<br />
As part of our human practices we decided to look into an artistic approach to bringing synthetic biology to a wider audience. As part of this we created "Quanticare", a fictitious and futuristic company forming on the back of a rise to prominence of synthetic biology over the next few years, as well as the results of our own projects on nitric oxide sensing and the comparator circuit. The fictitious company's latest development is to introduce a visual bio sensors in to the human body in the form of a tattoo-based health monitor, ''Cura''. <br />
<br />
<br />
Not only did the development of the fictitious company allow the team to explore potential future applications of synthetic biology and bio sensors, but also via the creation of a film , fuel a range of ethical questions. The team released the video on the day of the Wiki Freeze as well as bringing transferable tattoo samples of ''Cura'' to the European Jamboree as a form of marketing for the video and concept as a whole. <br />
<br />
<br />
The team also produced a film with Amy Congdon exploring ''Cura'' itself and its many applications. They decided to angle the film as a product launch in order to capture the imagination and bring Quanticare and ''Cura'' to the public as a realistic future involving synthetic biology. The film is available to view below, we thank the Biochemical Society for their outreach grant to fund this film.<br />
<br />
<html><center><table width=100% cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 align=center><tr><td valign=absmiddle align=center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/StNFePmymbc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></td></tr></table></center></html><br />
<br />
<br />
<html><font size=3pt><b>Please check out out <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details!</b></font></html><br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
Some initial feedback, the Quanticare video was launched less than 24 before the wiki freeze:<br />
<br />
-Blogged about on Biochemical Society blog<br />
-On UEA news pages <br />
-Mentioned in tweet from the BBSRC<br />
-Many likes and tweets<br />
<br />
-Some quotes <br />
<br />
"Inspiring and Innovative" Global Strategist and Author @DeanneLawrence <br />
"Great project. Good luck!" @SocratesLogos Synthetic Biologist<br />
"Sooooooo cool!" Kimberley Hirst Jones UEA-JIC_Norwich iGEM 2011 team member<br />
<br />
==Social Media==<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team has been VERY active on a range of social media over the summer.Any one is welcome to follow the team on Facebook or twitter. The team kept everyone updated on what was going on, both in the lab and in our spare time. This has been a great method of connecting with the public, companies,researchers, as well as getting in touch with other iGEM teams. The NRPUEA iGEM team believe human out reach via social media is important since it allows the public to follow the teams achievements and lab results, as well as providing an opportunity for members of the public to get to know the personality of the team members. The human stories behind science are crucial, informative and a powerful way to promote science in a positive light. Please follow us on twitter @NRPiGEM or UEA iGEM 2012 page on Facebook.<br />
<br />
===Twitter===<br />
<br />
[[File:Twitter stats NRP iGEM.png]]<br />
<br />
[[File:TweetReach_nrpigem.pdf| '''Download a PDF of our twitter statistics''']]<br />
<br />
===Facebook===<br />
<br />
Creating social media pages also allowed us to access information about who was checking our page out, showing interesting information, showing that social media techniques such as facebook attracted mostly 18-24 years olds interest, and that it attracted no attention from those above 65. Therefore the team thought it was important to promote our project, not only through the internet, but also other techniques such as newspaper articles and radio shows. <br />
<br />
The figure bellow shows the age ranges and gender of people who liked any posts from the NRP UEA iGEM team<br />
[[File:Likes.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
Below is a list of the international locations that people liked our teams status updates from. This highlighted that whilst the majority of followers were located in Norwich, we also had followers from a range of places over the world, highlighting the importance of using such social media to reach these followers. <br />
[[File:Location_of_likes.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
As mentioned the NRP UEA iGEM team created facebook statuses and tweets very regularly and as the graph below shows, there was a consistent increase in action and interest in the NRPUEA iGEM team throughout the summer. <br />
<br />
[[File:Posts_ratings.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
===Google+===<br />
<br />
We championed the use of Google+, a new social network from Google. We encouraged the UK iGEM teams to utilise Google+ to help make the 2012 UK team meetup as open and accessible as possible.<br />
<br />
==Media appearances==<br />
<br />
===STAR Radio===<br />
<br />
[http://www.star107.co.uk/farming-show.php STAR 107.9 FM's Farming Show]<br />
<br />
[[Image:NRPSTARRadio.jpg | 300px | right]]<br />
<br />
[http://www.star107.co.uk/podcasts/the-farming-show/show-23.mp3 Listen To Our Radio Show Appearence!]<br />
<br />
In early July the team travelled to Cambridge to appear on STAR Radio's program: "The Farming Show". We were interviewed by Mark Peters (one of the presenters) about synthetic biology, iGEM and our project. The interview went really well as Pascoe and Khadija got across all of the information that was needed in a clear and concise way, and the presenter was extremely helpful in making sure all of the salient points of the project were brought out. <br />
<br />
The team were able to give a brief description of what synthetic biology is before talking about the future applications of synthetic biology for medicine, agriculture and business. We were also able to mention our event at the Norwich Forum in late August in order to help promote it!<br />
<br />
A big thanks goes out to all at STAR Radio 107.9 for their help with the project in setting up the interview and allowing us air time to discuss iGEM and synthetic biology. Please visit the link above to hear the radio show.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Paper.jpg|100px|left]]<br />
<br />
===Newspapers===<br />
<br />
The team featured on the university website a few times through the summer, as well as a brief article in the Eastern daily press newspaper.This was great, as allowed the locals of Norwich to become aware not only of the team and iGEM, but also introduce many to the scientific branch of synthetic biology.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
==Engagement with the wider scientific community==<br />
<br />
=== The team presented at the John Innes Centre Synthetic Biology conference ===<br />
<br />
The John Innes Center (JIC) is a world leading center of plant research, the home of UEAs 2011 team, and part of the Norwich Research Park (NRP). Researchers at the JIC recognized that synthetic biology was an important field and therefore hosted a synthetic biology conference. The aim of the day was to enhance local researchers' knowledge of what synthetic biology is, and highlight projects in which synthetic biology is currently being used. When the team was invited to give a talk to the JIC researchers we were extremely excited. At the talk we gave an over view of what iGEM is, our project and how it developed over the summer, as well informing them about aspects of human practice. The team had carried out over the summer. the team took also showed them a clip of our futuristic applications film. We enjoyed presenting our work and results, as well having an opportunity to improve our presentation skills before the European jamboree. There seemed to be a real interest by the researchers in to our project, and the advice given was encouraging giving encouraging advice. The researchers also seemed very interested to hear more about our human practices elements of iGEM, wanting to know what we had discovered about the public's opinion our research. More than anything, researchers at the John Innes Centre couldn't believe that we were undergraduate students who had been working together for 10 weeks!<br />
[[File:JIC_Synthetic_Biology_Workshop.pdf]]<br />
<br />
The NRP iGEM teams are helping to foster collaborations between scientists across the NRP and have begun to create a sense of community amongst NRP synthetic biologists.<br />
<br />
===SGM microbiology synthetic biology (September 3rd -5th)===<br />
<br />
The society of general microbiology held a 3 day synthetic biology conference at the University of Warwick. Three members of the UEA NRP iGEM team were lucky enough to go and enjoy talks on streptococcus, molecular motors, and the dynamics of the genome and designer microbes. The event also gave the team member the opportunity to meet other synthetic biology scientists as well as informing them of the current advances in the field and inspiring them with the future possibilities. The event also allowed the team members to present a poster and therefore engage with the scientific community, both informing them more about the iGEM competition and our project . The team believed it was important for the scientists in the synthetic biology world to have the opportunity to meet undergraduate iGEM members, allowing them to express the skills it has allowed them to develop and to encourage further interest in to lab groups forming teams, and funding iGEM projects.<br />
<br />
=== The Biochemical Society kindly mentioned us in their blog post ===<br />
<br />
Not only did the Biochemical Society generously fund our project, they also were kind enough to feature our teams efforts in an encouraging ethical debate around the subject of synthetic biology (via our Quanticare video) in their blog.<br />
<br />
[http://biochemicalsociety.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/exploring-ethical-dilemmas-of-synthetic-biology-with-the-nrp-uea-norwich-igem-team/ '''Click here to view the blog post''']<br />
<br />
This post was also seen by the BBSRC, who very kindly tweeted about it!<br />
<br />
[[File:BBSRC.png | centre | 600px]]</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Human_OutreachTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Human Outreach2012-09-26T22:55:50Z<p>Rkelwick: /* The team presented at the John Innes Centre Synthetic Biology conference */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
=Human Practices=<br />
<br />
<br />
The UEA NRP team really went up and beyond this year, carrying out a wide selection of activity's to inform the public of both synthetic biology and iGEM, aiming to raise awareness of this branch of science. We used many methods of communication in order to cater for a range of audiences, including a radio show, newspaper articles, pubic events and talks as well as collaborating with all the other UK teams, in order to organize the UK team meet up and steam it live on the internet. <br />
<br />
== iGEM collaborations==<br />
<br />
===The iGEM UK team meet up, hosted by the NRP-UEA team at Google campus London (Friday 17th August) The most open and publically accessible UK team meetup EVER===<br />
<br />
[[File:Hangout stats.png | center]]<br />
<br />
[[File:UKiGEMteams.jpg | 300px | right]]<br />
<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team organised and hosted the UK team meet up at Google campus in London. The NRPUEA iGEM team greeted the UK teams, provided refreshments and a lovely buffet lunch, as well as chairing the speeches and making sure the day ran smoothly. There was a great atmosphere at the meet up, and the event was a huge success.<br />
<br />
The day consisted of a number of guest speakers, including advice and tips for iGEM success from Dr. Tom Ellis (advisor of the 2009 winning iGEM project E.chromi) and an interactive talk on synthetic biology and science communication from the BBC science presenter, Nature editor and Guardian writer, Dr. Adam Rutherford. The UK iGEM teams presented a poster and a 15 minute presentation about their project. This gave the members of each team the chance to practice their presentation skills before the European team meet up, as well as a chance for others to ask questions and see what other project routes the other teams have taken. <br />
<br />
The event was also available '''LIVE on the internet''' via Google+ hangout, to allow the public and those that were unable to attend to still watch the presentations. Despite there being a few technical difficulties with the quality of the image, figures have shown that over 600 people watched the event.<br />
<br />
[https://dl.dropbox.com/u/9957127/UK%20iGEM%20Team%20Hangout%2017th%20Aug%202012%20Programme.pdf '''Click here for programme PDF''']<br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
<html><align=center><br />
<table align=center width=100% cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0><br />
<tr><br />
<td valign=absmiddle align=center><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Kv_Z14OIrKc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
</align><br />
</html><br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
=== Communicating with other iGEM teams===<br />
<br />
As part of our efforts to collaborate with the other iGEM teams this year we've made an effort to keep in contact with an array of iGEM teams. Here are some highlights:<br />
<br />
- We communicated with all of the UK iGEM teams via Twitter, Email, Facebook and Google+ before, during and after the UK team meet up.<br />
<br />
- We tweeted with many other iGEM teams from around the world and closely followed the iGEM community.<br />
<br />
- We video called the St Andrews iGEM team via Google+ Hang-out to discuss our projects further as well as to seek advice about the arrangements for the UK team meet-up.<br />
<br />
- Our advisor Richard Kelwick was interviewed by the Edinburgh iGEM team via Skype about our teams perspectives on public awareness and understanding of synthetic biology.<br />
<br />
- We visited the Cambridge team near the beginning of our project and they were kind enough to give us a tour of their labs. <br />
<br />
- Finally, the British Columbia team sent us a questionnaire about intellectual property that we happily filled out.<br />
<br />
==Public engagement==<br />
<br />
===The Future of Science event held at the forum, Norwich (Sunday 19th August)===<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Forum_team.JPG | 300px| right]]<br />
<br />
<br />
The Forum is located at the heart of the city of Norwich, and hosts a wide range of free events and exhibits to be enjoyed by the whole community. The venue is packed with restaurants, cafes and shops, as well as being home to Norwich library and BBC East Anglia. <br />
<br />
[[File:Poster for Forum.jpg | 250px | left]]<br />
<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team were fortunate enough to hold an interactive day at the Forum, giving the public a chance to engage within the world of synthetic biology. Before the date of the event, the team increased awareness via a range of techniques, including posters, leaflets and newspaper and internet adverts, including the Forums website. This resulted with a large turnout at the event, including the local press. <br />
<br />
At the Future of Science event, the team presented a selection of informative posters, revealed their new film on a large screen, as well as showing examples of work carried out by the students during iGEM. For example, the public could view ''E.coli'' which had been transformed with GFP within a UV light box, as well as carrying out a counting colonies exercise. The NRPUEA team also created a range of synthetic biology educational material for the event, to inform the public of the concepts and terminology of synthetic biology. The different activities were designed to interest a selection of different ages. The educational resources include a range of quizzes and worksheets such as crosswords and matching exercises.<br />
<br />
[[File:Child_making_plasmid.jpg |300px | right]]<br />
<br />
For younger children we designed a colourful jigsaw plasmid (as seen in image). The idea of this activity was for the participants to choose jigsaw pieces that represented the genes that code for certain characteristics, such as green or red hair, and piece them together to form a complete plasmid. Once they had designed their plasmid they used a biscuit base, icing of different colours and various sweets to create a "biscuit creature" that corresponded to the plasmid they had created. The learning outcome of this activity was to give the children an understanding that a different selection of genes, results in different characteristics, and that editing the DNA can result in a change in the characteristics. The activity was very popular and most of the participants seemed to understand this concept, as well as having great fun.<br />
<br />
The event attracted a range of ages, as well as mixed levels of previous interest into synthetic biology. It also became clear that many members of the public knew very little about synthetic biology, and therefore were very interested in finding out more about the new branch of biology and the iGEM competition. The NRPUEA iGEM team also took the opportunity to talk to the public and listen to their opinions about the work the iGEM teams are carrying out, which demonstrated how mixed the view of the public were. The day was a huge success.<br />
<br />
'''Synthetic Biology activity sheets'''<br />
<br />
[[File:Word_Search_of_Synthetic_Biology.pdf]],<br />
[[File:Decode_Disney.pdf]],<br />
[[File:Questions_comprehensive.pdf]],[[File:Decode_Music_Artists_and_Films.pdf]],[[File:Word_Search_of_Synthetic_Biology.pdf]]<br />
<br />
=== Creation of a futuristic company, Quanticare and production of a thought-provoking film===<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Tattoo1.png |300px]][[File:QuanticareLogo_(2).png |300px]][[File:Tattoo2.png |300px]]<br />
<br />
<br />
As part of our human practices we decided to look into an artistic approach to bringing synthetic biology to a wider audience. As part of this we created "Quanticare", a fictitious and futuristic company forming on the back of a rise to prominence of synthetic biology over the next few years, as well as the results of our own projects on nitric oxide sensing and the comparator circuit. The fictitious company's latest development is to introduce a visual bio sensors in to the human body in the form of a tattoo-based health monitor, ''Cura''. <br />
<br />
<br />
Not only did the development of the fictitious company allow the team to explore potential future applications of synthetic biology and bio sensors, but also via the creation of a film , fuel a range of ethical questions. The team released the video on the day of the Wiki Freeze as well as bringing transferable tattoo samples of ''Cura'' to the European Jamboree as a form of marketing for the video and concept as a whole. <br />
<br />
<br />
The team also produced a film with Amy Congdon exploring ''Cura'' itself and its many applications. They decided to angle the film as a product launch in order to capture the imagination and bring Quanticare and ''Cura'' to the public as a realistic future involving synthetic biology. The film is available to view below, we thank the Biochemical Society for their outreach grant to fund this film.<br />
<br />
<html><center><table width=100% cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 align=center><tr><td valign=absmiddle align=center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/StNFePmymbc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></td></tr></table></center></html><br />
<br />
<br />
<html><font size=3pt><b>Please check out out <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details!</b></font></html><br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
Some initial feedback, the Quanticare video was launched less than 24 before the wiki freeze:<br />
<br />
-Blogged about on Biochemical Society blog<br />
-On UEA news pages <br />
-Mentioned in tweet from the BBSRC<br />
-Many likes and tweets<br />
<br />
-Some quotes <br />
<br />
"Inspiring and Innovative" Global Strategist and Author @DeanneLawrence <br />
"Great project. Good luck!" @SocratesLogos Synthetic Biologist<br />
"Sooooooo cool!" Kimberley Hirst Jones UEA-JIC_Norwich iGEM 2011 team member<br />
<br />
==Social Media==<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team has been VERY active on a range of social media over the summer.Any one is welcome to follow the team on Facebook or twitter. The team kept everyone updated on what was going on, both in the lab and in our spare time. This has been a great method of connecting with the public, companies,researchers, as well as getting in touch with other iGEM teams. The NRPUEA iGEM team believe human out reach via social media is important since it allows the public to follow the teams achievements and lab results, as well as providing an opportunity for members of the public to get to know the personality of the team members. The human stories behind science are crucial, informative and a powerful way to promote science in a positive light. Please follow us on twitter @NRPiGEM or UEA iGEM 2012 page on Facebook.<br />
<br />
===Twitter===<br />
<br />
[[File:Twitter stats NRP iGEM.png]]<br />
<br />
[[File:TweetReach_nrpigem.pdf| '''Download a PDF of our twitter statistics''']]<br />
<br />
===Facebook===<br />
<br />
Creating social media pages also allowed us to access information about who was checking our page out, showing interesting information, showing that social media techniques such as facebook attracted mostly 18-24 years olds interest, and that it attracted no attention from those above 65. Therefore the team thought it was important to promote our project, not only through the internet, but also other techniques such as newspaper articles and radio shows. <br />
<br />
The figure bellow shows the age ranges and gender of people who liked any posts from the NRP UEA iGEM team<br />
[[File:Likes.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
Below is a list of the international locations that people liked our teams status updates from. This highlighted that whilst the majority of followers were located in Norwich, we also had followers from a range of places over the world, highlighting the importance of using such social media to reach these followers. <br />
[[File:Location_of_likes.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
As mentioned the NRP UEA iGEM team created facebook statuses and tweets very regularly and as the graph below shows, there was a consistent increase in action and interest in the NRPUEA iGEM team throughout the summer. <br />
<br />
[[File:Posts_ratings.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
===Google+===<br />
<br />
We championed the use of Google+, a new social network from Google. We encouraged the UK iGEM teams to utilise Google+ to help make the 2012 UK team meetup as open and accessible as possible.<br />
<br />
==Media appearances==<br />
<br />
===STAR Radio===<br />
<br />
[http://www.star107.co.uk/farming-show.php STAR 107.9 FM's Farming Show]<br />
<br />
[[Image:NRPSTARRadio.jpg | 300px | right]]<br />
<br />
[http://www.star107.co.uk/podcasts/the-farming-show/show-23.mp3 Listen To Our Radio Show Appearence!]<br />
<br />
In early July the team travelled to Cambridge to appear on STAR Radio's program: "The Farming Show". We were interviewed by Mark Peters (one of the presenters) about synthetic biology, iGEM and our project. The interview went really well as Pascoe and Khadija got across all of the information that was needed in a clear and concise way, and the presenter was extremely helpful in making sure all of the salient points of the project were brought out. <br />
<br />
The team were able to give a brief description of what synthetic biology is before talking about the future applications of synthetic biology for medicine, agriculture and business. We were also able to mention our event at the Norwich Forum in late August in order to help promote it!<br />
<br />
A big thanks goes out to all at STAR Radio 107.9 for their help with the project in setting up the interview and allowing us air time to discuss iGEM and synthetic biology. Please visit the link above to hear the radio show.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Paper.jpg|100px|left]]<br />
<br />
===Newspapers===<br />
<br />
The team featured on the university website a few times through the summer, as well as a brief article in the Eastern daily press newspaper.This was great, as allowed the locals of Norwich to become aware not only of the team and iGEM, but also introduce many to the scientific branch of synthetic biology.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
==Engagement with the wider scientific community==<br />
<br />
=== The team presented at the John Innes Centre Synthetic Biology conference ===<br />
<br />
The John Innes Center (JIC) is a world leading center of plant research, the home of UEAs 2011 team, and part of the Norwich Research Park (NRP). Researchers at the JIC recognized that synthetic biology was an important field and therefore hosted a synthetic biology conference. The aim of the day was to enhance local researchers' knowledge of what synthetic biology is, and highlight projects in which synthetic biology is currently being used. When the team was invited to give a talk to the JIC researchers we were extremely excited. At the talk we gave an over view of what iGEM is, our project and how it developed over the summer, as well informing them about aspects of human practice. The team had carried out over the summer. the team took also showed them a clip of our futuristic applications film. We enjoyed presenting our work and results, as well having an opportunity to improve our presentation skills before the European jamboree. There seemed to be a real interest by the researchers in to our project, and the advice given was encouraging giving encouraging advice. The researchers also seemed very interested to hear more about our human practices elements of iGEM, wanting to know what we had discovered about the public's opinion our research. More than anything, researchers at the John Innes Centre couldn't believe that we were undergraduate students who had been working together for 10 weeks!<br />
[[File:JIC_Synthetic_Biology_Workshop.pdf]]<br />
<br />
The NRP iGEM teams are helping to foster collaborations between scientists across the NRP and have begun to create a sense of community amongst NRP synthetic biologists.<br />
<br />
===SGM microbiology synthetic biology (September 3rd -5th)===<br />
<br />
The society of general microbiology held a 3 day synthetic biology conference at the University of Warwick. Three members of the UEA NRP iGEM team were lucky enough to go and enjoy talks on streptococcus, molecular motors, and the dynamics of the genome and designer microbes. The event also gave the team member the opportunity to meet other synthetic biology scientists as well as informing them of the current advances in the field and inspiring them with the future possibilities. The event also allowed the team members to present a poster and therefore engage with the scientific community, both informing them more about the iGEM competition and our project . The team believed it was important for the scientists in the synthetic biology world to have the opportunity to meet undergraduate iGEM members, allowing them to express the skills it has allowed them to develop and to encourage further interest in to lab groups forming teams, and funding iGEM projects.<br />
<br />
=== The Biochemical Society kindly mentioned us in their blog post ===<br />
<br />
Not only did the Biochemical Society generously fund our project, they also were kind enough to feature our teams efforts in encouraging ethical debate around the subject of synthetic biology (via our Quanticare video) in their blog.<br />
<br />
[http://biochemicalsociety.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/exploring-ethical-dilemmas-of-synthetic-biology-with-the-nrp-uea-norwich-igem-team/ '''Click here to view the blog post''']<br />
<br />
This post was also seen by the BBSRC, who very kindly tweeted about it!<br />
<br />
[[File:BBSRC.png | centre | 600px]]</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Human_OutreachTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Human Outreach2012-09-26T22:53:14Z<p>Rkelwick: /* Social Media */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
=Human Practices=<br />
<br />
<br />
The UEA NRP team really went up and beyond this year, carrying out a wide selection of activity's to inform the public of both synthetic biology and iGEM, aiming to raise awareness of this branch of science. We used many methods of communication in order to cater for a range of audiences, including a radio show, newspaper articles, pubic events and talks as well as collaborating with all the other UK teams, in order to organize the UK team meet up and steam it live on the internet. <br />
<br />
== iGEM collaborations==<br />
<br />
===The iGEM UK team meet up, hosted by the NRP-UEA team at Google campus London (Friday 17th August) The most open and publically accessible UK team meetup EVER===<br />
<br />
[[File:Hangout stats.png | center]]<br />
<br />
[[File:UKiGEMteams.jpg | 300px | right]]<br />
<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team organised and hosted the UK team meet up at Google campus in London. The NRPUEA iGEM team greeted the UK teams, provided refreshments and a lovely buffet lunch, as well as chairing the speeches and making sure the day ran smoothly. There was a great atmosphere at the meet up, and the event was a huge success.<br />
<br />
The day consisted of a number of guest speakers, including advice and tips for iGEM success from Dr. Tom Ellis (advisor of the 2009 winning iGEM project E.chromi) and an interactive talk on synthetic biology and science communication from the BBC science presenter, Nature editor and Guardian writer, Dr. Adam Rutherford. The UK iGEM teams presented a poster and a 15 minute presentation about their project. This gave the members of each team the chance to practice their presentation skills before the European team meet up, as well as a chance for others to ask questions and see what other project routes the other teams have taken. <br />
<br />
The event was also available '''LIVE on the internet''' via Google+ hangout, to allow the public and those that were unable to attend to still watch the presentations. Despite there being a few technical difficulties with the quality of the image, figures have shown that over 600 people watched the event.<br />
<br />
[https://dl.dropbox.com/u/9957127/UK%20iGEM%20Team%20Hangout%2017th%20Aug%202012%20Programme.pdf '''Click here for programme PDF''']<br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
<html><align=center><br />
<table align=center width=100% cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0><br />
<tr><br />
<td valign=absmiddle align=center><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Kv_Z14OIrKc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
</align><br />
</html><br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
=== Communicating with other iGEM teams===<br />
<br />
As part of our efforts to collaborate with the other iGEM teams this year we've made an effort to keep in contact with an array of iGEM teams. Here are some highlights:<br />
<br />
- We communicated with all of the UK iGEM teams via Twitter, Email, Facebook and Google+ before, during and after the UK team meet up.<br />
<br />
- We tweeted with many other iGEM teams from around the world and closely followed the iGEM community.<br />
<br />
- We video called the St Andrews iGEM team via Google+ Hang-out to discuss our projects further as well as to seek advice about the arrangements for the UK team meet-up.<br />
<br />
- Our advisor Richard Kelwick was interviewed by the Edinburgh iGEM team via Skype about our teams perspectives on public awareness and understanding of synthetic biology.<br />
<br />
- We visited the Cambridge team near the beginning of our project and they were kind enough to give us a tour of their labs. <br />
<br />
- Finally, the British Columbia team sent us a questionnaire about intellectual property that we happily filled out.<br />
<br />
==Public engagement==<br />
<br />
===The Future of Science event held at the forum, Norwich (Sunday 19th August)===<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Forum_team.JPG | 300px| right]]<br />
<br />
<br />
The Forum is located at the heart of the city of Norwich, and hosts a wide range of free events and exhibits to be enjoyed by the whole community. The venue is packed with restaurants, cafes and shops, as well as being home to Norwich library and BBC East Anglia. <br />
<br />
[[File:Poster for Forum.jpg | 250px | left]]<br />
<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team were fortunate enough to hold an interactive day at the Forum, giving the public a chance to engage within the world of synthetic biology. Before the date of the event, the team increased awareness via a range of techniques, including posters, leaflets and newspaper and internet adverts, including the Forums website. This resulted with a large turnout at the event, including the local press. <br />
<br />
At the Future of Science event, the team presented a selection of informative posters, revealed their new film on a large screen, as well as showing examples of work carried out by the students during iGEM. For example, the public could view ''E.coli'' which had been transformed with GFP within a UV light box, as well as carrying out a counting colonies exercise. The NRPUEA team also created a range of synthetic biology educational material for the event, to inform the public of the concepts and terminology of synthetic biology. The different activities were designed to interest a selection of different ages. The educational resources include a range of quizzes and worksheets such as crosswords and matching exercises.<br />
<br />
[[File:Child_making_plasmid.jpg |300px | right]]<br />
<br />
For younger children we designed a colourful jigsaw plasmid (as seen in image). The idea of this activity was for the participants to choose jigsaw pieces that represented the genes that code for certain characteristics, such as green or red hair, and piece them together to form a complete plasmid. Once they had designed their plasmid they used a biscuit base, icing of different colours and various sweets to create a "biscuit creature" that corresponded to the plasmid they had created. The learning outcome of this activity was to give the children an understanding that a different selection of genes, results in different characteristics, and that editing the DNA can result in a change in the characteristics. The activity was very popular and most of the participants seemed to understand this concept, as well as having great fun.<br />
<br />
The event attracted a range of ages, as well as mixed levels of previous interest into synthetic biology. It also became clear that many members of the public knew very little about synthetic biology, and therefore were very interested in finding out more about the new branch of biology and the iGEM competition. The NRPUEA iGEM team also took the opportunity to talk to the public and listen to their opinions about the work the iGEM teams are carrying out, which demonstrated how mixed the view of the public were. The day was a huge success.<br />
<br />
'''Synthetic Biology activity sheets'''<br />
<br />
[[File:Word_Search_of_Synthetic_Biology.pdf]],<br />
[[File:Decode_Disney.pdf]],<br />
[[File:Questions_comprehensive.pdf]],[[File:Decode_Music_Artists_and_Films.pdf]],[[File:Word_Search_of_Synthetic_Biology.pdf]]<br />
<br />
=== Creation of a futuristic company, Quanticare and production of a thought-provoking film===<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Tattoo1.png |300px]][[File:QuanticareLogo_(2).png |300px]][[File:Tattoo2.png |300px]]<br />
<br />
<br />
As part of our human practices we decided to look into an artistic approach to bringing synthetic biology to a wider audience. As part of this we created "Quanticare", a fictitious and futuristic company forming on the back of a rise to prominence of synthetic biology over the next few years, as well as the results of our own projects on nitric oxide sensing and the comparator circuit. The fictitious company's latest development is to introduce a visual bio sensors in to the human body in the form of a tattoo-based health monitor, ''Cura''. <br />
<br />
<br />
Not only did the development of the fictitious company allow the team to explore potential future applications of synthetic biology and bio sensors, but also via the creation of a film , fuel a range of ethical questions. The team released the video on the day of the Wiki Freeze as well as bringing transferable tattoo samples of ''Cura'' to the European Jamboree as a form of marketing for the video and concept as a whole. <br />
<br />
<br />
The team also produced a film with Amy Congdon exploring ''Cura'' itself and its many applications. They decided to angle the film as a product launch in order to capture the imagination and bring Quanticare and ''Cura'' to the public as a realistic future involving synthetic biology. The film is available to view below, we thank the Biochemical Society for their outreach grant to fund this film.<br />
<br />
<html><center><table width=100% cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 align=center><tr><td valign=absmiddle align=center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/StNFePmymbc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></td></tr></table></center></html><br />
<br />
<br />
<html><font size=3pt><b>Please check out out <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details!</b></font></html><br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
Some initial feedback, the Quanticare video was launched less than 24 before the wiki freeze:<br />
<br />
-Blogged about on Biochemical Society blog<br />
-On UEA news pages <br />
-Mentioned in tweet from the BBSRC<br />
-Many likes and tweets<br />
<br />
-Some quotes <br />
<br />
"Inspiring and Innovative" Global Strategist and Author @DeanneLawrence <br />
"Great project. Good luck!" @SocratesLogos Synthetic Biologist<br />
"Sooooooo cool!" Kimberley Hirst Jones UEA-JIC_Norwich iGEM 2011 team member<br />
<br />
==Social Media==<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team has been VERY active on a range of social media over the summer.Any one is welcome to follow the team on Facebook or twitter. The team kept everyone updated on what was going on, both in the lab and in our spare time. This has been a great method of connecting with the public, companies,researchers, as well as getting in touch with other iGEM teams. The NRPUEA iGEM team believe human out reach via social media is important since it allows the public to follow the teams achievements and lab results, as well as providing an opportunity for members of the public to get to know the personality of the team members. The human stories behind science are crucial, informative and a powerful way to promote science in a positive light. Please follow us on twitter @NRPiGEM or UEA iGEM 2012 page on Facebook.<br />
<br />
===Twitter===<br />
<br />
[[File:Twitter stats NRP iGEM.png]]<br />
<br />
[[File:TweetReach_nrpigem.pdf| '''Download a PDF of our twitter statistics''']]<br />
<br />
===Facebook===<br />
<br />
Creating social media pages also allowed us to access information about who was checking our page out, showing interesting information, showing that social media techniques such as facebook attracted mostly 18-24 years olds interest, and that it attracted no attention from those above 65. Therefore the team thought it was important to promote our project, not only through the internet, but also other techniques such as newspaper articles and radio shows. <br />
<br />
The figure bellow shows the age ranges and gender of people who liked any posts from the NRP UEA iGEM team<br />
[[File:Likes.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
Below is a list of the international locations that people liked our teams status updates from. This highlighted that whilst the majority of followers were located in Norwich, we also had followers from a range of places over the world, highlighting the importance of using such social media to reach these followers. <br />
[[File:Location_of_likes.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
As mentioned the NRP UEA iGEM team created facebook statuses and tweets very regularly and as the graph below shows, there was a consistent increase in action and interest in the NRPUEA iGEM team throughout the summer. <br />
<br />
[[File:Posts_ratings.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
===Google+===<br />
<br />
We championed the use of Google+, a new social network from Google. We encouraged the UK iGEM teams to utilise Google+ to help make the 2012 UK team meetup as open and accessible as possible.<br />
<br />
==Media appearances==<br />
<br />
===STAR Radio===<br />
<br />
[http://www.star107.co.uk/farming-show.php STAR 107.9 FM's Farming Show]<br />
<br />
[[Image:NRPSTARRadio.jpg | 300px | right]]<br />
<br />
[http://www.star107.co.uk/podcasts/the-farming-show/show-23.mp3 Listen To Our Radio Show Appearence!]<br />
<br />
In early July the team travelled to Cambridge to appear on STAR Radio's program: "The Farming Show". We were interviewed by Mark Peters (one of the presenters) about synthetic biology, iGEM and our project. The interview went really well as Pascoe and Khadija got across all of the information that was needed in a clear and concise way, and the presenter was extremely helpful in making sure all of the salient points of the project were brought out. <br />
<br />
The team were able to give a brief description of what synthetic biology is before talking about the future applications of synthetic biology for medicine, agriculture and business. We were also able to mention our event at the Norwich Forum in late August in order to help promote it!<br />
<br />
A big thanks goes out to all at STAR Radio 107.9 for their help with the project in setting up the interview and allowing us air time to discuss iGEM and synthetic biology. Please visit the link above to hear the radio show.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Paper.jpg|100px|left]]<br />
<br />
===Newspapers===<br />
<br />
The team featured on the university website a few times through the summer, as well as a brief article in the Eastern daily press newspaper.This was great, as allowed the locals of Norwich to become aware not only of the team and iGEM, but also introduce many to the scientific branch of synthetic biology.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
==Engagement with the wider scientific community==<br />
<br />
=== The team presented at the John Innes Centre Synthetic Biology conference ===<br />
<br />
The john innes center (JIC) is a world leading center of plant research, the home of UEAs 2011 team, and is part of the Norwich research part. Researchers at the JIC recognized that synthetic biology was an important field and therefore hosted a synthetic biology confrere, with the aim of the day to enhance their reserches knowledge of what synthetic biology is, and projects in which synthetic biology is being used. when the NRP-UEA was invited to give a talk to the JIC researchers we were extremely excited, giving them an over view of what iGEM was, our project and how it developed over the summer, as well informing them about aspects of human practice the NRP- UEA team had carried out over the summer. the team took also showed them a clip of our futuristic applications film. The team enjoyed presenting their work and results, as well as using it as an opportunity to improve their presentation skills before the European jamboree. There seemed to be a real interest by their researchers in to our project, giving encouraging advice, with many asking further questions after the presentation. The researchers also seemed very interested to hear more about our human practices elements after the presentation, wanting to know what the public's opinion of the research carried out at Norwich research park was, as well as synthetic biology as a whole.<br />
[[File:JIC_Synthetic_Biology_Workshop.pdf]]<br />
<br />
===SGM microbiology synthetic biology (September 3rd -5th)===<br />
<br />
The society of general microbiology held a 3 day synthetic biology conference at the University of Warwick. Three members of the UEA NRP iGEM team were lucky enough to go and enjoy talks on streptococcus, molecular motors, and the dynamics of the genome and designer microbes. The event also gave the team member the opportunity to meet other synthetic biology scientists as well as informing them of the current advances in the field and inspiring them with the future possibilities. The event also allowed the team members to present a poster and therefore engage with the scientific community, both informing them more about the iGEM competition and our project . The team believed it was important for the scientists in the synthetic biology world to have the opportunity to meet undergraduate iGEM members, allowing them to express the skills it has allowed them to develop and to encourage further interest in to lab groups forming teams, and funding iGEM projects.<br />
<br />
=== The Biochemical Society kindly mentioned us in their blog post ===<br />
<br />
Not only did the Biochemical Society generously fund our project, they also were kind enough to feature our teams efforts in encouraging ethical debate around the subject of synthetic biology (via our Quanticare video) in their blog.<br />
<br />
[http://biochemicalsociety.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/exploring-ethical-dilemmas-of-synthetic-biology-with-the-nrp-uea-norwich-igem-team/ '''Click here to view the blog post''']<br />
<br />
This post was also seen by the BBSRC, who very kindly tweeted about it!<br />
<br />
[[File:BBSRC.png | centre | 600px]]</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Human_OutreachTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Human Outreach2012-09-26T22:49:34Z<p>Rkelwick: /* Facebook */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
=Human Practices=<br />
<br />
<br />
The UEA NRP team really went up and beyond this year, carrying out a wide selection of activity's to inform the public of both synthetic biology and iGEM, aiming to raise awareness of this branch of science. We used many methods of communication in order to cater for a range of audiences, including a radio show, newspaper articles, pubic events and talks as well as collaborating with all the other UK teams, in order to organize the UK team meet up and steam it live on the internet. <br />
<br />
== iGEM collaborations==<br />
<br />
===The iGEM UK team meet up, hosted by the NRP-UEA team at Google campus London (Friday 17th August) The most open and publically accessible UK team meetup EVER===<br />
<br />
[[File:Hangout stats.png | center]]<br />
<br />
[[File:UKiGEMteams.jpg | 300px | right]]<br />
<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team organised and hosted the UK team meet up at Google campus in London. The NRPUEA iGEM team greeted the UK teams, provided refreshments and a lovely buffet lunch, as well as chairing the speeches and making sure the day ran smoothly. There was a great atmosphere at the meet up, and the event was a huge success.<br />
<br />
The day consisted of a number of guest speakers, including advice and tips for iGEM success from Dr. Tom Ellis (advisor of the 2009 winning iGEM project E.chromi) and an interactive talk on synthetic biology and science communication from the BBC science presenter, Nature editor and Guardian writer, Dr. Adam Rutherford. The UK iGEM teams presented a poster and a 15 minute presentation about their project. This gave the members of each team the chance to practice their presentation skills before the European team meet up, as well as a chance for others to ask questions and see what other project routes the other teams have taken. <br />
<br />
The event was also available '''LIVE on the internet''' via Google+ hangout, to allow the public and those that were unable to attend to still watch the presentations. Despite there being a few technical difficulties with the quality of the image, figures have shown that over 600 people watched the event.<br />
<br />
[https://dl.dropbox.com/u/9957127/UK%20iGEM%20Team%20Hangout%2017th%20Aug%202012%20Programme.pdf '''Click here for programme PDF''']<br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
<html><align=center><br />
<table align=center width=100% cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0><br />
<tr><br />
<td valign=absmiddle align=center><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Kv_Z14OIrKc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
</align><br />
</html><br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
=== Communicating with other iGEM teams===<br />
<br />
As part of our efforts to collaborate with the other iGEM teams this year we've made an effort to keep in contact with an array of iGEM teams. Here are some highlights:<br />
<br />
- We communicated with all of the UK iGEM teams via Twitter, Email, Facebook and Google+ before, during and after the UK team meet up.<br />
<br />
- We tweeted with many other iGEM teams from around the world and closely followed the iGEM community.<br />
<br />
- We video called the St Andrews iGEM team via Google+ Hang-out to discuss our projects further as well as to seek advice about the arrangements for the UK team meet-up.<br />
<br />
- Our advisor Richard Kelwick was interviewed by the Edinburgh iGEM team via Skype about our teams perspectives on public awareness and understanding of synthetic biology.<br />
<br />
- We visited the Cambridge team near the beginning of our project and they were kind enough to give us a tour of their labs. <br />
<br />
- Finally, the British Columbia team sent us a questionnaire about intellectual property that we happily filled out.<br />
<br />
==Public engagement==<br />
<br />
===The Future of Science event held at the forum, Norwich (Sunday 19th August)===<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Forum_team.JPG | 300px| right]]<br />
<br />
<br />
The Forum is located at the heart of the city of Norwich, and hosts a wide range of free events and exhibits to be enjoyed by the whole community. The venue is packed with restaurants, cafes and shops, as well as being home to Norwich library and BBC East Anglia. <br />
<br />
[[File:Poster for Forum.jpg | 250px | left]]<br />
<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team were fortunate enough to hold an interactive day at the Forum, giving the public a chance to engage within the world of synthetic biology. Before the date of the event, the team increased awareness via a range of techniques, including posters, leaflets and newspaper and internet adverts, including the Forums website. This resulted with a large turnout at the event, including the local press. <br />
<br />
At the Future of Science event, the team presented a selection of informative posters, revealed their new film on a large screen, as well as showing examples of work carried out by the students during iGEM. For example, the public could view ''E.coli'' which had been transformed with GFP within a UV light box, as well as carrying out a counting colonies exercise. The NRPUEA team also created a range of synthetic biology educational material for the event, to inform the public of the concepts and terminology of synthetic biology. The different activities were designed to interest a selection of different ages. The educational resources include a range of quizzes and worksheets such as crosswords and matching exercises.<br />
<br />
[[File:Child_making_plasmid.jpg |300px | right]]<br />
<br />
For younger children we designed a colourful jigsaw plasmid (as seen in image). The idea of this activity was for the participants to choose jigsaw pieces that represented the genes that code for certain characteristics, such as green or red hair, and piece them together to form a complete plasmid. Once they had designed their plasmid they used a biscuit base, icing of different colours and various sweets to create a "biscuit creature" that corresponded to the plasmid they had created. The learning outcome of this activity was to give the children an understanding that a different selection of genes, results in different characteristics, and that editing the DNA can result in a change in the characteristics. The activity was very popular and most of the participants seemed to understand this concept, as well as having great fun.<br />
<br />
The event attracted a range of ages, as well as mixed levels of previous interest into synthetic biology. It also became clear that many members of the public knew very little about synthetic biology, and therefore were very interested in finding out more about the new branch of biology and the iGEM competition. The NRPUEA iGEM team also took the opportunity to talk to the public and listen to their opinions about the work the iGEM teams are carrying out, which demonstrated how mixed the view of the public were. The day was a huge success.<br />
<br />
'''Synthetic Biology activity sheets'''<br />
<br />
[[File:Word_Search_of_Synthetic_Biology.pdf]],<br />
[[File:Decode_Disney.pdf]],<br />
[[File:Questions_comprehensive.pdf]],[[File:Decode_Music_Artists_and_Films.pdf]],[[File:Word_Search_of_Synthetic_Biology.pdf]]<br />
<br />
=== Creation of a futuristic company, Quanticare and production of a thought-provoking film===<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Tattoo1.png |300px]][[File:QuanticareLogo_(2).png |300px]][[File:Tattoo2.png |300px]]<br />
<br />
<br />
As part of our human practices we decided to look into an artistic approach to bringing synthetic biology to a wider audience. As part of this we created "Quanticare", a fictitious and futuristic company forming on the back of a rise to prominence of synthetic biology over the next few years, as well as the results of our own projects on nitric oxide sensing and the comparator circuit. The fictitious company's latest development is to introduce a visual bio sensors in to the human body in the form of a tattoo-based health monitor, ''Cura''. <br />
<br />
<br />
Not only did the development of the fictitious company allow the team to explore potential future applications of synthetic biology and bio sensors, but also via the creation of a film , fuel a range of ethical questions. The team released the video on the day of the Wiki Freeze as well as bringing transferable tattoo samples of ''Cura'' to the European Jamboree as a form of marketing for the video and concept as a whole. <br />
<br />
<br />
The team also produced a film with Amy Congdon exploring ''Cura'' itself and its many applications. They decided to angle the film as a product launch in order to capture the imagination and bring Quanticare and ''Cura'' to the public as a realistic future involving synthetic biology. The film is available to view below, we thank the Biochemical Society for their outreach grant to fund this film.<br />
<br />
<html><center><table width=100% cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 align=center><tr><td valign=absmiddle align=center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/StNFePmymbc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></td></tr></table></center></html><br />
<br />
<br />
<html><font size=3pt><b>Please check out out <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details!</b></font></html><br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
Some initial feedback, the Quanticare video was launched less than 24 before the wiki freeze:<br />
<br />
-Blogged about on Biochemical Society blog<br />
-On UEA news pages <br />
-Mentioned in tweet from the BBSRC<br />
-Many likes and tweets<br />
<br />
-Some quotes <br />
<br />
"Inspiring and Innovative" Global Strategist and Author @DeanneLawrence <br />
"Great project. Good luck!" @SocratesLogos Synthetic Biologist<br />
"Sooooooo cool!" Kimberley Hirst Jones UEA-JIC_Norwich iGEM 2011 team member<br />
<br />
==Social Media==<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team has been VERY active on a range of social media over the summer.Any one is welcome to follow the team on Facebook or twitter. The team keep everyone updated on what is going on, both in the lab and in our spare time. This has been a great method of connecting with the public, companies,researchers, as well as getting in touch with other iGEM teams. The NRPUEA iGEM team believe human out reach via social media is important since it allows the public to follow the teams achievements and lab results, as well as get to know the personality of the team members. please follow us on twitter @NRPiGEM or UEA iGEM 2012 page on Facebook.<br />
<br />
===Twitter===<br />
<br />
[[File:Twitter stats NRP iGEM.png]]<br />
<br />
[[File:TweetReach_nrpigem.pdf| '''Download a PDF of our twitter statistics''']]<br />
<br />
===Facebook===<br />
<br />
Creating social media pages also allowed us to access information about who was checking our page out, showing interesting information, showing that social media techniques such as facebook attracted mostly 18-24 years olds interest, and that it attracted no attention from those above 65. Therefore the team thought it was important to promote our project, not only through the internet, but also other techniques such as newspaper articles and radio shows. <br />
<br />
The figure bellow shows the age ranges and gender of people who liked any posts from the NRP UEA iGEM team<br />
[[File:Likes.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
Below is a list of the international locations that people liked our teams status updates from. This highlighted that whilst the majority of followers were located in Norwich, we also had followers from a range of places over the world, highlighting the importance of using such social media to reach these followers. <br />
[[File:Location_of_likes.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
As mentioned the NRP UEA iGEM team created facebook statuses and tweets very regularly and as the graph below shows, there was a consistent increase in action and interest in the NRPUEA iGEM team throughout the summer. <br />
<br />
[[File:Posts_ratings.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
===Google+===<br />
<br />
We championed the use of Google+, a new social network from Google. We encouraged the UK iGEM teams to utilise Google+ to help make the 2012 UK team meetup as open and accessible as possible.<br />
<br />
==Media appearances==<br />
<br />
===STAR Radio===<br />
<br />
[http://www.star107.co.uk/farming-show.php STAR 107.9 FM's Farming Show]<br />
<br />
[[Image:NRPSTARRadio.jpg | 300px | right]]<br />
<br />
[http://www.star107.co.uk/podcasts/the-farming-show/show-23.mp3 Listen To Our Radio Show Appearence!]<br />
<br />
In early July the team travelled to Cambridge to appear on STAR Radio's program: "The Farming Show". We were interviewed by Mark Peters (one of the presenters) about synthetic biology, iGEM and our project. The interview went really well as Pascoe and Khadija got across all of the information that was needed in a clear and concise way, and the presenter was extremely helpful in making sure all of the salient points of the project were brought out. <br />
<br />
The team were able to give a brief description of what synthetic biology is before talking about the future applications of synthetic biology for medicine, agriculture and business. We were also able to mention our event at the Norwich Forum in late August in order to help promote it!<br />
<br />
A big thanks goes out to all at STAR Radio 107.9 for their help with the project in setting up the interview and allowing us air time to discuss iGEM and synthetic biology. Please visit the link above to hear the radio show.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Paper.jpg|100px|left]]<br />
<br />
===Newspapers===<br />
<br />
The team featured on the university website a few times through the summer, as well as a brief article in the Eastern daily press newspaper.This was great, as allowed the locals of Norwich to become aware not only of the team and iGEM, but also introduce many to the scientific branch of synthetic biology.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
==Engagement with the wider scientific community==<br />
<br />
=== The team presented at the John Innes Centre Synthetic Biology conference ===<br />
<br />
The john innes center (JIC) is a world leading center of plant research, the home of UEAs 2011 team, and is part of the Norwich research part. Researchers at the JIC recognized that synthetic biology was an important field and therefore hosted a synthetic biology confrere, with the aim of the day to enhance their reserches knowledge of what synthetic biology is, and projects in which synthetic biology is being used. when the NRP-UEA was invited to give a talk to the JIC researchers we were extremely excited, giving them an over view of what iGEM was, our project and how it developed over the summer, as well informing them about aspects of human practice the NRP- UEA team had carried out over the summer. the team took also showed them a clip of our futuristic applications film. The team enjoyed presenting their work and results, as well as using it as an opportunity to improve their presentation skills before the European jamboree. There seemed to be a real interest by their researchers in to our project, giving encouraging advice, with many asking further questions after the presentation. The researchers also seemed very interested to hear more about our human practices elements after the presentation, wanting to know what the public's opinion of the research carried out at Norwich research park was, as well as synthetic biology as a whole.<br />
[[File:JIC_Synthetic_Biology_Workshop.pdf]]<br />
<br />
===SGM microbiology synthetic biology (September 3rd -5th)===<br />
<br />
The society of general microbiology held a 3 day synthetic biology conference at the University of Warwick. Three members of the UEA NRP iGEM team were lucky enough to go and enjoy talks on streptococcus, molecular motors, and the dynamics of the genome and designer microbes. The event also gave the team member the opportunity to meet other synthetic biology scientists as well as informing them of the current advances in the field and inspiring them with the future possibilities. The event also allowed the team members to present a poster and therefore engage with the scientific community, both informing them more about the iGEM competition and our project . The team believed it was important for the scientists in the synthetic biology world to have the opportunity to meet undergraduate iGEM members, allowing them to express the skills it has allowed them to develop and to encourage further interest in to lab groups forming teams, and funding iGEM projects.<br />
<br />
=== The Biochemical Society kindly mentioned us in their blog post ===<br />
<br />
Not only did the Biochemical Society generously fund our project, they also were kind enough to feature our teams efforts in encouraging ethical debate around the subject of synthetic biology (via our Quanticare video) in their blog.<br />
<br />
[http://biochemicalsociety.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/exploring-ethical-dilemmas-of-synthetic-biology-with-the-nrp-uea-norwich-igem-team/ '''Click here to view the blog post''']<br />
<br />
This post was also seen by the BBSRC, who very kindly tweeted about it!<br />
<br />
[[File:BBSRC.png | centre | 600px]]</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Human_OutreachTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Human Outreach2012-09-26T22:48:07Z<p>Rkelwick: /* Creation of futuristic company, Quanticare and production of a thought-provoking film */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
=Human Practices=<br />
<br />
<br />
The UEA NRP team really went up and beyond this year, carrying out a wide selection of activity's to inform the public of both synthetic biology and iGEM, aiming to raise awareness of this branch of science. We used many methods of communication in order to cater for a range of audiences, including a radio show, newspaper articles, pubic events and talks as well as collaborating with all the other UK teams, in order to organize the UK team meet up and steam it live on the internet. <br />
<br />
== iGEM collaborations==<br />
<br />
===The iGEM UK team meet up, hosted by the NRP-UEA team at Google campus London (Friday 17th August) The most open and publically accessible UK team meetup EVER===<br />
<br />
[[File:Hangout stats.png | center]]<br />
<br />
[[File:UKiGEMteams.jpg | 300px | right]]<br />
<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team organised and hosted the UK team meet up at Google campus in London. The NRPUEA iGEM team greeted the UK teams, provided refreshments and a lovely buffet lunch, as well as chairing the speeches and making sure the day ran smoothly. There was a great atmosphere at the meet up, and the event was a huge success.<br />
<br />
The day consisted of a number of guest speakers, including advice and tips for iGEM success from Dr. Tom Ellis (advisor of the 2009 winning iGEM project E.chromi) and an interactive talk on synthetic biology and science communication from the BBC science presenter, Nature editor and Guardian writer, Dr. Adam Rutherford. The UK iGEM teams presented a poster and a 15 minute presentation about their project. This gave the members of each team the chance to practice their presentation skills before the European team meet up, as well as a chance for others to ask questions and see what other project routes the other teams have taken. <br />
<br />
The event was also available '''LIVE on the internet''' via Google+ hangout, to allow the public and those that were unable to attend to still watch the presentations. Despite there being a few technical difficulties with the quality of the image, figures have shown that over 600 people watched the event.<br />
<br />
[https://dl.dropbox.com/u/9957127/UK%20iGEM%20Team%20Hangout%2017th%20Aug%202012%20Programme.pdf '''Click here for programme PDF''']<br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
<html><align=center><br />
<table align=center width=100% cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0><br />
<tr><br />
<td valign=absmiddle align=center><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Kv_Z14OIrKc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
</align><br />
</html><br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
=== Communicating with other iGEM teams===<br />
<br />
As part of our efforts to collaborate with the other iGEM teams this year we've made an effort to keep in contact with an array of iGEM teams. Here are some highlights:<br />
<br />
- We communicated with all of the UK iGEM teams via Twitter, Email, Facebook and Google+ before, during and after the UK team meet up.<br />
<br />
- We tweeted with many other iGEM teams from around the world and closely followed the iGEM community.<br />
<br />
- We video called the St Andrews iGEM team via Google+ Hang-out to discuss our projects further as well as to seek advice about the arrangements for the UK team meet-up.<br />
<br />
- Our advisor Richard Kelwick was interviewed by the Edinburgh iGEM team via Skype about our teams perspectives on public awareness and understanding of synthetic biology.<br />
<br />
- We visited the Cambridge team near the beginning of our project and they were kind enough to give us a tour of their labs. <br />
<br />
- Finally, the British Columbia team sent us a questionnaire about intellectual property that we happily filled out.<br />
<br />
==Public engagement==<br />
<br />
===The Future of Science event held at the forum, Norwich (Sunday 19th August)===<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Forum_team.JPG | 300px| right]]<br />
<br />
<br />
The Forum is located at the heart of the city of Norwich, and hosts a wide range of free events and exhibits to be enjoyed by the whole community. The venue is packed with restaurants, cafes and shops, as well as being home to Norwich library and BBC East Anglia. <br />
<br />
[[File:Poster for Forum.jpg | 250px | left]]<br />
<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team were fortunate enough to hold an interactive day at the Forum, giving the public a chance to engage within the world of synthetic biology. Before the date of the event, the team increased awareness via a range of techniques, including posters, leaflets and newspaper and internet adverts, including the Forums website. This resulted with a large turnout at the event, including the local press. <br />
<br />
At the Future of Science event, the team presented a selection of informative posters, revealed their new film on a large screen, as well as showing examples of work carried out by the students during iGEM. For example, the public could view ''E.coli'' which had been transformed with GFP within a UV light box, as well as carrying out a counting colonies exercise. The NRPUEA team also created a range of synthetic biology educational material for the event, to inform the public of the concepts and terminology of synthetic biology. The different activities were designed to interest a selection of different ages. The educational resources include a range of quizzes and worksheets such as crosswords and matching exercises.<br />
<br />
[[File:Child_making_plasmid.jpg |300px | right]]<br />
<br />
For younger children we designed a colourful jigsaw plasmid (as seen in image). The idea of this activity was for the participants to choose jigsaw pieces that represented the genes that code for certain characteristics, such as green or red hair, and piece them together to form a complete plasmid. Once they had designed their plasmid they used a biscuit base, icing of different colours and various sweets to create a "biscuit creature" that corresponded to the plasmid they had created. The learning outcome of this activity was to give the children an understanding that a different selection of genes, results in different characteristics, and that editing the DNA can result in a change in the characteristics. The activity was very popular and most of the participants seemed to understand this concept, as well as having great fun.<br />
<br />
The event attracted a range of ages, as well as mixed levels of previous interest into synthetic biology. It also became clear that many members of the public knew very little about synthetic biology, and therefore were very interested in finding out more about the new branch of biology and the iGEM competition. The NRPUEA iGEM team also took the opportunity to talk to the public and listen to their opinions about the work the iGEM teams are carrying out, which demonstrated how mixed the view of the public were. The day was a huge success.<br />
<br />
'''Synthetic Biology activity sheets'''<br />
<br />
[[File:Word_Search_of_Synthetic_Biology.pdf]],<br />
[[File:Decode_Disney.pdf]],<br />
[[File:Questions_comprehensive.pdf]],[[File:Decode_Music_Artists_and_Films.pdf]],[[File:Word_Search_of_Synthetic_Biology.pdf]]<br />
<br />
=== Creation of a futuristic company, Quanticare and production of a thought-provoking film===<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Tattoo1.png |300px]][[File:QuanticareLogo_(2).png |300px]][[File:Tattoo2.png |300px]]<br />
<br />
<br />
As part of our human practices we decided to look into an artistic approach to bringing synthetic biology to a wider audience. As part of this we created "Quanticare", a fictitious and futuristic company forming on the back of a rise to prominence of synthetic biology over the next few years, as well as the results of our own projects on nitric oxide sensing and the comparator circuit. The fictitious company's latest development is to introduce a visual bio sensors in to the human body in the form of a tattoo-based health monitor, ''Cura''. <br />
<br />
<br />
Not only did the development of the fictitious company allow the team to explore potential future applications of synthetic biology and bio sensors, but also via the creation of a film , fuel a range of ethical questions. The team released the video on the day of the Wiki Freeze as well as bringing transferable tattoo samples of ''Cura'' to the European Jamboree as a form of marketing for the video and concept as a whole. <br />
<br />
<br />
The team also produced a film with Amy Congdon exploring ''Cura'' itself and its many applications. They decided to angle the film as a product launch in order to capture the imagination and bring Quanticare and ''Cura'' to the public as a realistic future involving synthetic biology. The film is available to view below, we thank the Biochemical Society for their outreach grant to fund this film.<br />
<br />
<html><center><table width=100% cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 align=center><tr><td valign=absmiddle align=center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/StNFePmymbc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></td></tr></table></center></html><br />
<br />
<br />
<html><font size=3pt><b>Please check out out <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details!</b></font></html><br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
Some initial feedback, the Quanticare video was launched less than 24 before the wiki freeze:<br />
<br />
-Blogged about on Biochemical Society blog<br />
-On UEA news pages <br />
-Mentioned in tweet from the BBSRC<br />
-Many likes and tweets<br />
<br />
-Some quotes <br />
<br />
"Inspiring and Innovative" Global Strategist and Author @DeanneLawrence <br />
"Great project. Good luck!" @SocratesLogos Synthetic Biologist<br />
"Sooooooo cool!" Kimberley Hirst Jones UEA-JIC_Norwich iGEM 2011 team member<br />
<br />
==Social Media==<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team has been VERY active on a range of social media over the summer.Any one is welcome to follow the team on Facebook or twitter. The team keep everyone updated on what is going on, both in the lab and in our spare time. This has been a great method of connecting with the public, companies,researchers, as well as getting in touch with other iGEM teams. The NRPUEA iGEM team believe human out reach via social media is important since it allows the public to follow the teams achievements and lab results, as well as get to know the personality of the team members. please follow us on twitter @NRPiGEM or UEA iGEM 2012 page on Facebook.<br />
<br />
===Twitter===<br />
<br />
[[File:Twitter stats NRP iGEM.png]]<br />
<br />
[[File:TweetReach_nrpigem.pdf| '''Download a PDF of our twitter statistics''']]<br />
<br />
===Facebook===<br />
<br />
Creating social media pages also allowed us to access information about who was checking our page out, showing interesting information, showing that social media techniques such as facebook attracted mostly 18-24 years olds interest, and that it attracted no attention from those above 65. Therefore the team though it was important to promote our project, not only through the internet, but also other techniques such as newspaper articles and radio shows. <br />
<br />
The figure bellow shows the age ranges and gender of people who liked any posts from the NRP UEA iGEM team<br />
[[File:Likes.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
Below is a list of the location that people liked the teams statuses from. This highlighted that whilst the majority of followers were located in Norwich, we also had followers from a range of places over the world, highlighting the importance of using such social media to reach these followers. <br />
[[File:Location_of_likes.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
As mentioned the NRP UEA iGEM team created facebook statuses and tweets very regularly and as the graph below shows, there was a consistent increase in action and interest in the NRPUEA iGEM team throughout the summer. <br />
<br />
[[File:Posts_ratings.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
===Google+===<br />
<br />
We championed the use of Google+, a new social network from Google. We encouraged the UK iGEM teams to utilise Google+ to help make the 2012 UK team meetup as open and accessible as possible.<br />
<br />
==Media appearances==<br />
<br />
===STAR Radio===<br />
<br />
[http://www.star107.co.uk/farming-show.php STAR 107.9 FM's Farming Show]<br />
<br />
[[Image:NRPSTARRadio.jpg | 300px | right]]<br />
<br />
[http://www.star107.co.uk/podcasts/the-farming-show/show-23.mp3 Listen To Our Radio Show Appearence!]<br />
<br />
In early July the team travelled to Cambridge to appear on STAR Radio's program: "The Farming Show". We were interviewed by Mark Peters (one of the presenters) about synthetic biology, iGEM and our project. The interview went really well as Pascoe and Khadija got across all of the information that was needed in a clear and concise way, and the presenter was extremely helpful in making sure all of the salient points of the project were brought out. <br />
<br />
The team were able to give a brief description of what synthetic biology is before talking about the future applications of synthetic biology for medicine, agriculture and business. We were also able to mention our event at the Norwich Forum in late August in order to help promote it!<br />
<br />
A big thanks goes out to all at STAR Radio 107.9 for their help with the project in setting up the interview and allowing us air time to discuss iGEM and synthetic biology. Please visit the link above to hear the radio show.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Paper.jpg|100px|left]]<br />
<br />
===Newspapers===<br />
<br />
The team featured on the university website a few times through the summer, as well as a brief article in the Eastern daily press newspaper.This was great, as allowed the locals of Norwich to become aware not only of the team and iGEM, but also introduce many to the scientific branch of synthetic biology.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
==Engagement with the wider scientific community==<br />
<br />
=== The team presented at the John Innes Centre Synthetic Biology conference ===<br />
<br />
The john innes center (JIC) is a world leading center of plant research, the home of UEAs 2011 team, and is part of the Norwich research part. Researchers at the JIC recognized that synthetic biology was an important field and therefore hosted a synthetic biology confrere, with the aim of the day to enhance their reserches knowledge of what synthetic biology is, and projects in which synthetic biology is being used. when the NRP-UEA was invited to give a talk to the JIC researchers we were extremely excited, giving them an over view of what iGEM was, our project and how it developed over the summer, as well informing them about aspects of human practice the NRP- UEA team had carried out over the summer. the team took also showed them a clip of our futuristic applications film. The team enjoyed presenting their work and results, as well as using it as an opportunity to improve their presentation skills before the European jamboree. There seemed to be a real interest by their researchers in to our project, giving encouraging advice, with many asking further questions after the presentation. The researchers also seemed very interested to hear more about our human practices elements after the presentation, wanting to know what the public's opinion of the research carried out at Norwich research park was, as well as synthetic biology as a whole.<br />
[[File:JIC_Synthetic_Biology_Workshop.pdf]]<br />
<br />
===SGM microbiology synthetic biology (September 3rd -5th)===<br />
<br />
The society of general microbiology held a 3 day synthetic biology conference at the University of Warwick. Three members of the UEA NRP iGEM team were lucky enough to go and enjoy talks on streptococcus, molecular motors, and the dynamics of the genome and designer microbes. The event also gave the team member the opportunity to meet other synthetic biology scientists as well as informing them of the current advances in the field and inspiring them with the future possibilities. The event also allowed the team members to present a poster and therefore engage with the scientific community, both informing them more about the iGEM competition and our project . The team believed it was important for the scientists in the synthetic biology world to have the opportunity to meet undergraduate iGEM members, allowing them to express the skills it has allowed them to develop and to encourage further interest in to lab groups forming teams, and funding iGEM projects.<br />
<br />
=== The Biochemical Society kindly mentioned us in their blog post ===<br />
<br />
Not only did the Biochemical Society generously fund our project, they also were kind enough to feature our teams efforts in encouraging ethical debate around the subject of synthetic biology (via our Quanticare video) in their blog.<br />
<br />
[http://biochemicalsociety.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/exploring-ethical-dilemmas-of-synthetic-biology-with-the-nrp-uea-norwich-igem-team/ '''Click here to view the blog post''']<br />
<br />
This post was also seen by the BBSRC, who very kindly tweeted about it!<br />
<br />
[[File:BBSRC.png | centre | 600px]]</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Human_OutreachTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Human Outreach2012-09-26T22:47:24Z<p>Rkelwick: /* Creation of futuristic company, Quanticare and production of a thought-provoking film */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
=Human Practices=<br />
<br />
<br />
The UEA NRP team really went up and beyond this year, carrying out a wide selection of activity's to inform the public of both synthetic biology and iGEM, aiming to raise awareness of this branch of science. We used many methods of communication in order to cater for a range of audiences, including a radio show, newspaper articles, pubic events and talks as well as collaborating with all the other UK teams, in order to organize the UK team meet up and steam it live on the internet. <br />
<br />
== iGEM collaborations==<br />
<br />
===The iGEM UK team meet up, hosted by the NRP-UEA team at Google campus London (Friday 17th August) The most open and publically accessible UK team meetup EVER===<br />
<br />
[[File:Hangout stats.png | center]]<br />
<br />
[[File:UKiGEMteams.jpg | 300px | right]]<br />
<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team organised and hosted the UK team meet up at Google campus in London. The NRPUEA iGEM team greeted the UK teams, provided refreshments and a lovely buffet lunch, as well as chairing the speeches and making sure the day ran smoothly. There was a great atmosphere at the meet up, and the event was a huge success.<br />
<br />
The day consisted of a number of guest speakers, including advice and tips for iGEM success from Dr. Tom Ellis (advisor of the 2009 winning iGEM project E.chromi) and an interactive talk on synthetic biology and science communication from the BBC science presenter, Nature editor and Guardian writer, Dr. Adam Rutherford. The UK iGEM teams presented a poster and a 15 minute presentation about their project. This gave the members of each team the chance to practice their presentation skills before the European team meet up, as well as a chance for others to ask questions and see what other project routes the other teams have taken. <br />
<br />
The event was also available '''LIVE on the internet''' via Google+ hangout, to allow the public and those that were unable to attend to still watch the presentations. Despite there being a few technical difficulties with the quality of the image, figures have shown that over 600 people watched the event.<br />
<br />
[https://dl.dropbox.com/u/9957127/UK%20iGEM%20Team%20Hangout%2017th%20Aug%202012%20Programme.pdf '''Click here for programme PDF''']<br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
<html><align=center><br />
<table align=center width=100% cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0><br />
<tr><br />
<td valign=absmiddle align=center><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Kv_Z14OIrKc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
</align><br />
</html><br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
=== Communicating with other iGEM teams===<br />
<br />
As part of our efforts to collaborate with the other iGEM teams this year we've made an effort to keep in contact with an array of iGEM teams. Here are some highlights:<br />
<br />
- We communicated with all of the UK iGEM teams via Twitter, Email, Facebook and Google+ before, during and after the UK team meet up.<br />
<br />
- We tweeted with many other iGEM teams from around the world and closely followed the iGEM community.<br />
<br />
- We video called the St Andrews iGEM team via Google+ Hang-out to discuss our projects further as well as to seek advice about the arrangements for the UK team meet-up.<br />
<br />
- Our advisor Richard Kelwick was interviewed by the Edinburgh iGEM team via Skype about our teams perspectives on public awareness and understanding of synthetic biology.<br />
<br />
- We visited the Cambridge team near the beginning of our project and they were kind enough to give us a tour of their labs. <br />
<br />
- Finally, the British Columbia team sent us a questionnaire about intellectual property that we happily filled out.<br />
<br />
==Public engagement==<br />
<br />
===The Future of Science event held at the forum, Norwich (Sunday 19th August)===<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Forum_team.JPG | 300px| right]]<br />
<br />
<br />
The Forum is located at the heart of the city of Norwich, and hosts a wide range of free events and exhibits to be enjoyed by the whole community. The venue is packed with restaurants, cafes and shops, as well as being home to Norwich library and BBC East Anglia. <br />
<br />
[[File:Poster for Forum.jpg | 250px | left]]<br />
<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team were fortunate enough to hold an interactive day at the Forum, giving the public a chance to engage within the world of synthetic biology. Before the date of the event, the team increased awareness via a range of techniques, including posters, leaflets and newspaper and internet adverts, including the Forums website. This resulted with a large turnout at the event, including the local press. <br />
<br />
At the Future of Science event, the team presented a selection of informative posters, revealed their new film on a large screen, as well as showing examples of work carried out by the students during iGEM. For example, the public could view ''E.coli'' which had been transformed with GFP within a UV light box, as well as carrying out a counting colonies exercise. The NRPUEA team also created a range of synthetic biology educational material for the event, to inform the public of the concepts and terminology of synthetic biology. The different activities were designed to interest a selection of different ages. The educational resources include a range of quizzes and worksheets such as crosswords and matching exercises.<br />
<br />
[[File:Child_making_plasmid.jpg |300px | right]]<br />
<br />
For younger children we designed a colourful jigsaw plasmid (as seen in image). The idea of this activity was for the participants to choose jigsaw pieces that represented the genes that code for certain characteristics, such as green or red hair, and piece them together to form a complete plasmid. Once they had designed their plasmid they used a biscuit base, icing of different colours and various sweets to create a "biscuit creature" that corresponded to the plasmid they had created. The learning outcome of this activity was to give the children an understanding that a different selection of genes, results in different characteristics, and that editing the DNA can result in a change in the characteristics. The activity was very popular and most of the participants seemed to understand this concept, as well as having great fun.<br />
<br />
The event attracted a range of ages, as well as mixed levels of previous interest into synthetic biology. It also became clear that many members of the public knew very little about synthetic biology, and therefore were very interested in finding out more about the new branch of biology and the iGEM competition. The NRPUEA iGEM team also took the opportunity to talk to the public and listen to their opinions about the work the iGEM teams are carrying out, which demonstrated how mixed the view of the public were. The day was a huge success.<br />
<br />
'''Synthetic Biology activity sheets'''<br />
<br />
[[File:Word_Search_of_Synthetic_Biology.pdf]],<br />
[[File:Decode_Disney.pdf]],<br />
[[File:Questions_comprehensive.pdf]],[[File:Decode_Music_Artists_and_Films.pdf]],[[File:Word_Search_of_Synthetic_Biology.pdf]]<br />
<br />
=== Creation of futuristic company, Quanticare and production of a thought-provoking film===<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Tattoo1.png |300px]][[File:QuanticareLogo_(2).png |300px]][[File:Tattoo2.png |300px]]<br />
<br />
<br />
As part of our human practices we decided to look into an artistic approach to bringing synthetic biology to a wider audience. As part of this we created "Quanticare", a fictitious and futuristic company forming on the back of a rise to prominence of synthetic biology over the next few years, as well as the results of our own projects on nitric oxide sensing and the comparator circuit. The fictitious company's latest development is to introduce a visual bio sensors in to the human body in the form of a tattoo-based health monitor, ''Cura''. <br />
<br />
<br />
Not only did the development of the fictitious company allow the team to explore potential future applications of synthetic biology and bio sensors, but also via the creation of a film , fuel a range of ethical questions. The team released the video on the day of the Wiki Freeze as well as bringing transferable tattoo samples of ''Cura'' to the European Jamboree as a form of marketing for the video and concept as a whole. <br />
<br />
<br />
The team also produced a film with Amy Congdon exploring ''Cura'' itself and its many applications. They decided to angle the film as a product launch in order to capture the imagination and bring Quanticare and ''Cura'' to the public as a realistic future involving synthetic biology. The film is available to view below, we thank the Biochemical Society for their outreach grant to fund this film.<br />
<br />
<html><center><table width=100% cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 align=center><tr><td valign=absmiddle align=center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/StNFePmymbc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></td></tr></table></center></html><br />
<br />
<br />
<html><font size=3pt><b>Please check out out <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details!</b></font></html><br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
Some initial feedback, the Quanticare video was launched less than 24 before the wiki freeze:<br />
<br />
-Blogged about on Biochemical Society blog<br />
-On UEA news pages <br />
-Mentioned in tweet from the BBSRC<br />
-Many likes and tweets<br />
<br />
-Some quotes <br />
<br />
"Inspiring and Innovative" Global Strategist and Author @DeanneLawrence <br />
"Great project. Good luck!" @SocratesLogos Synthetic Biologist<br />
"Sooooooo cool!" Kimberley Hirst Jones UEA-JIC_Norwich iGEM 2011 team member<br />
<br />
==Social Media==<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team has been VERY active on a range of social media over the summer.Any one is welcome to follow the team on Facebook or twitter. The team keep everyone updated on what is going on, both in the lab and in our spare time. This has been a great method of connecting with the public, companies,researchers, as well as getting in touch with other iGEM teams. The NRPUEA iGEM team believe human out reach via social media is important since it allows the public to follow the teams achievements and lab results, as well as get to know the personality of the team members. please follow us on twitter @NRPiGEM or UEA iGEM 2012 page on Facebook.<br />
<br />
===Twitter===<br />
<br />
[[File:Twitter stats NRP iGEM.png]]<br />
<br />
[[File:TweetReach_nrpigem.pdf| '''Download a PDF of our twitter statistics''']]<br />
<br />
===Facebook===<br />
<br />
Creating social media pages also allowed us to access information about who was checking our page out, showing interesting information, showing that social media techniques such as facebook attracted mostly 18-24 years olds interest, and that it attracted no attention from those above 65. Therefore the team though it was important to promote our project, not only through the internet, but also other techniques such as newspaper articles and radio shows. <br />
<br />
The figure bellow shows the age ranges and gender of people who liked any posts from the NRP UEA iGEM team<br />
[[File:Likes.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
Below is a list of the location that people liked the teams statuses from. This highlighted that whilst the majority of followers were located in Norwich, we also had followers from a range of places over the world, highlighting the importance of using such social media to reach these followers. <br />
[[File:Location_of_likes.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
As mentioned the NRP UEA iGEM team created facebook statuses and tweets very regularly and as the graph below shows, there was a consistent increase in action and interest in the NRPUEA iGEM team throughout the summer. <br />
<br />
[[File:Posts_ratings.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
===Google+===<br />
<br />
We championed the use of Google+, a new social network from Google. We encouraged the UK iGEM teams to utilise Google+ to help make the 2012 UK team meetup as open and accessible as possible.<br />
<br />
==Media appearances==<br />
<br />
===STAR Radio===<br />
<br />
[http://www.star107.co.uk/farming-show.php STAR 107.9 FM's Farming Show]<br />
<br />
[[Image:NRPSTARRadio.jpg | 300px | right]]<br />
<br />
[http://www.star107.co.uk/podcasts/the-farming-show/show-23.mp3 Listen To Our Radio Show Appearence!]<br />
<br />
In early July the team travelled to Cambridge to appear on STAR Radio's program: "The Farming Show". We were interviewed by Mark Peters (one of the presenters) about synthetic biology, iGEM and our project. The interview went really well as Pascoe and Khadija got across all of the information that was needed in a clear and concise way, and the presenter was extremely helpful in making sure all of the salient points of the project were brought out. <br />
<br />
The team were able to give a brief description of what synthetic biology is before talking about the future applications of synthetic biology for medicine, agriculture and business. We were also able to mention our event at the Norwich Forum in late August in order to help promote it!<br />
<br />
A big thanks goes out to all at STAR Radio 107.9 for their help with the project in setting up the interview and allowing us air time to discuss iGEM and synthetic biology. Please visit the link above to hear the radio show.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Paper.jpg|100px|left]]<br />
<br />
===Newspapers===<br />
<br />
The team featured on the university website a few times through the summer, as well as a brief article in the Eastern daily press newspaper.This was great, as allowed the locals of Norwich to become aware not only of the team and iGEM, but also introduce many to the scientific branch of synthetic biology.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
==Engagement with the wider scientific community==<br />
<br />
=== The team presented at the John Innes Centre Synthetic Biology conference ===<br />
<br />
The john innes center (JIC) is a world leading center of plant research, the home of UEAs 2011 team, and is part of the Norwich research part. Researchers at the JIC recognized that synthetic biology was an important field and therefore hosted a synthetic biology confrere, with the aim of the day to enhance their reserches knowledge of what synthetic biology is, and projects in which synthetic biology is being used. when the NRP-UEA was invited to give a talk to the JIC researchers we were extremely excited, giving them an over view of what iGEM was, our project and how it developed over the summer, as well informing them about aspects of human practice the NRP- UEA team had carried out over the summer. the team took also showed them a clip of our futuristic applications film. The team enjoyed presenting their work and results, as well as using it as an opportunity to improve their presentation skills before the European jamboree. There seemed to be a real interest by their researchers in to our project, giving encouraging advice, with many asking further questions after the presentation. The researchers also seemed very interested to hear more about our human practices elements after the presentation, wanting to know what the public's opinion of the research carried out at Norwich research park was, as well as synthetic biology as a whole.<br />
[[File:JIC_Synthetic_Biology_Workshop.pdf]]<br />
<br />
===SGM microbiology synthetic biology (September 3rd -5th)===<br />
<br />
The society of general microbiology held a 3 day synthetic biology conference at the University of Warwick. Three members of the UEA NRP iGEM team were lucky enough to go and enjoy talks on streptococcus, molecular motors, and the dynamics of the genome and designer microbes. The event also gave the team member the opportunity to meet other synthetic biology scientists as well as informing them of the current advances in the field and inspiring them with the future possibilities. The event also allowed the team members to present a poster and therefore engage with the scientific community, both informing them more about the iGEM competition and our project . The team believed it was important for the scientists in the synthetic biology world to have the opportunity to meet undergraduate iGEM members, allowing them to express the skills it has allowed them to develop and to encourage further interest in to lab groups forming teams, and funding iGEM projects.<br />
<br />
=== The Biochemical Society kindly mentioned us in their blog post ===<br />
<br />
Not only did the Biochemical Society generously fund our project, they also were kind enough to feature our teams efforts in encouraging ethical debate around the subject of synthetic biology (via our Quanticare video) in their blog.<br />
<br />
[http://biochemicalsociety.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/exploring-ethical-dilemmas-of-synthetic-biology-with-the-nrp-uea-norwich-igem-team/ '''Click here to view the blog post''']<br />
<br />
This post was also seen by the BBSRC, who very kindly tweeted about it!<br />
<br />
[[File:BBSRC.png | centre | 600px]]</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Human_OutreachTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Human Outreach2012-09-26T22:46:13Z<p>Rkelwick: /* Creation of futuristic company, Quanticare and production of a though-provoking film */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
=Human Practices=<br />
<br />
<br />
The UEA NRP team really went up and beyond this year, carrying out a wide selection of activity's to inform the public of both synthetic biology and iGEM, aiming to raise awareness of this branch of science. We used many methods of communication in order to cater for a range of audiences, including a radio show, newspaper articles, pubic events and talks as well as collaborating with all the other UK teams, in order to organize the UK team meet up and steam it live on the internet. <br />
<br />
== iGEM collaborations==<br />
<br />
===The iGEM UK team meet up, hosted by the NRP-UEA team at Google campus London (Friday 17th August) The most open and publically accessible UK team meetup EVER===<br />
<br />
[[File:Hangout stats.png | center]]<br />
<br />
[[File:UKiGEMteams.jpg | 300px | right]]<br />
<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team organised and hosted the UK team meet up at Google campus in London. The NRPUEA iGEM team greeted the UK teams, provided refreshments and a lovely buffet lunch, as well as chairing the speeches and making sure the day ran smoothly. There was a great atmosphere at the meet up, and the event was a huge success.<br />
<br />
The day consisted of a number of guest speakers, including advice and tips for iGEM success from Dr. Tom Ellis (advisor of the 2009 winning iGEM project E.chromi) and an interactive talk on synthetic biology and science communication from the BBC science presenter, Nature editor and Guardian writer, Dr. Adam Rutherford. The UK iGEM teams presented a poster and a 15 minute presentation about their project. This gave the members of each team the chance to practice their presentation skills before the European team meet up, as well as a chance for others to ask questions and see what other project routes the other teams have taken. <br />
<br />
The event was also available '''LIVE on the internet''' via Google+ hangout, to allow the public and those that were unable to attend to still watch the presentations. Despite there being a few technical difficulties with the quality of the image, figures have shown that over 600 people watched the event.<br />
<br />
[https://dl.dropbox.com/u/9957127/UK%20iGEM%20Team%20Hangout%2017th%20Aug%202012%20Programme.pdf '''Click here for programme PDF''']<br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
<html><align=center><br />
<table align=center width=100% cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0><br />
<tr><br />
<td valign=absmiddle align=center><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Kv_Z14OIrKc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
</align><br />
</html><br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
=== Communicating with other iGEM teams===<br />
<br />
As part of our efforts to collaborate with the other iGEM teams this year we've made an effort to keep in contact with an array of iGEM teams. Here are some highlights:<br />
<br />
- We communicated with all of the UK iGEM teams via Twitter, Email, Facebook and Google+ before, during and after the UK team meet up.<br />
<br />
- We tweeted with many other iGEM teams from around the world and closely followed the iGEM community.<br />
<br />
- We video called the St Andrews iGEM team via Google+ Hang-out to discuss our projects further as well as to seek advice about the arrangements for the UK team meet-up.<br />
<br />
- Our advisor Richard Kelwick was interviewed by the Edinburgh iGEM team via Skype about our teams perspectives on public awareness and understanding of synthetic biology.<br />
<br />
- We visited the Cambridge team near the beginning of our project and they were kind enough to give us a tour of their labs. <br />
<br />
- Finally, the British Columbia team sent us a questionnaire about intellectual property that we happily filled out.<br />
<br />
==Public engagement==<br />
<br />
===The Future of Science event held at the forum, Norwich (Sunday 19th August)===<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Forum_team.JPG | 300px| right]]<br />
<br />
<br />
The Forum is located at the heart of the city of Norwich, and hosts a wide range of free events and exhibits to be enjoyed by the whole community. The venue is packed with restaurants, cafes and shops, as well as being home to Norwich library and BBC East Anglia. <br />
<br />
[[File:Poster for Forum.jpg | 250px | left]]<br />
<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team were fortunate enough to hold an interactive day at the Forum, giving the public a chance to engage within the world of synthetic biology. Before the date of the event, the team increased awareness via a range of techniques, including posters, leaflets and newspaper and internet adverts, including the Forums website. This resulted with a large turnout at the event, including the local press. <br />
<br />
At the Future of Science event, the team presented a selection of informative posters, revealed their new film on a large screen, as well as showing examples of work carried out by the students during iGEM. For example, the public could view ''E.coli'' which had been transformed with GFP within a UV light box, as well as carrying out a counting colonies exercise. The NRPUEA team also created a range of synthetic biology educational material for the event, to inform the public of the concepts and terminology of synthetic biology. The different activities were designed to interest a selection of different ages. The educational resources include a range of quizzes and worksheets such as crosswords and matching exercises.<br />
<br />
[[File:Child_making_plasmid.jpg |300px | right]]<br />
<br />
For younger children we designed a colourful jigsaw plasmid (as seen in image). The idea of this activity was for the participants to choose jigsaw pieces that represented the genes that code for certain characteristics, such as green or red hair, and piece them together to form a complete plasmid. Once they had designed their plasmid they used a biscuit base, icing of different colours and various sweets to create a "biscuit creature" that corresponded to the plasmid they had created. The learning outcome of this activity was to give the children an understanding that a different selection of genes, results in different characteristics, and that editing the DNA can result in a change in the characteristics. The activity was very popular and most of the participants seemed to understand this concept, as well as having great fun.<br />
<br />
The event attracted a range of ages, as well as mixed levels of previous interest into synthetic biology. It also became clear that many members of the public knew very little about synthetic biology, and therefore were very interested in finding out more about the new branch of biology and the iGEM competition. The NRPUEA iGEM team also took the opportunity to talk to the public and listen to their opinions about the work the iGEM teams are carrying out, which demonstrated how mixed the view of the public were. The day was a huge success.<br />
<br />
'''Synthetic Biology activity sheets'''<br />
<br />
[[File:Word_Search_of_Synthetic_Biology.pdf]],<br />
[[File:Decode_Disney.pdf]],<br />
[[File:Questions_comprehensive.pdf]],[[File:Decode_Music_Artists_and_Films.pdf]],[[File:Word_Search_of_Synthetic_Biology.pdf]]<br />
<br />
=== Creation of futuristic company, Quanticare and production of a thought-provoking film===<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Tattoo1.png |300px]][[File:QuanticareLogo_(2).png |300px]][[File:Tattoo2.png |300px]]<br />
<br />
<br />
As part of our human practices we decided to look into an artistic approach to bringing synthetic biology to a wider audience. As part of this we created "Quanticare", a fictitious and futuristic company forming on the back of a rise to prominence of synthetic biology over the next few years, as well as the results of our own projects on nitric oxide sensing and the comparator circuit. The fictitious company's latest development is to introduce a visual bio sensors in to the human body in the form of a tattoo-based health monitor, ''Cura''. <br />
<br />
<br />
Not only did the development of the fictitious company allow the team to explore potential future applications of synthetic biology and bio sensors, but also via the creation of a film , fuel a range of ethical questions. The team released the video on the day of the Wiki Freeze as well as bringing transferable tattoo samples of ''Cura'' to the European Jamboree as a form of marketing for the video and concept as a whole. <br />
<br />
<br />
The team also produced a film with Amy Congdon exploring ''Cura'' itself and its many applications. They decided to angle the film as a product launch in order to capture the imagination and bring Quanticare and ''Cura'' to the public as a realistic future involving synthetic biology. The film is available to view below, we thank the Biochemical Society for their outreach grant to fund this film.<br />
<br />
<html><center><table width=100% cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 align=center><tr><td valign=absmiddle align=center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/StNFePmymbc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></td></tr></table></center></html><br />
<br />
<br />
<html><font size=3pt><b>Please check out out <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details!</b></font></html><br />
<br />
Some initial feedback, the Quanticare video was launched less than 24 before the wiki freeze:<br />
<br />
-Blogged about on Biochemical Society blog<br />
-On UEA news pages <br />
-Mentioned in tweet from the BBSRC<br />
-Many likes and tweets<br />
-Some quotes <br />
<br />
"Inspiring and Innovative" Global Strategist and Author @DeanneLawrence <br />
"Great project. Good luck!" @SocratesLogos Synthetic Biologist<br />
"Sooooooo cool!" Kimberley Hirst Jones UEA-JIC_Norwich iGEM 2011 team member<br />
<br />
==Social Media==<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team has been VERY active on a range of social media over the summer.Any one is welcome to follow the team on Facebook or twitter. The team keep everyone updated on what is going on, both in the lab and in our spare time. This has been a great method of connecting with the public, companies,researchers, as well as getting in touch with other iGEM teams. The NRPUEA iGEM team believe human out reach via social media is important since it allows the public to follow the teams achievements and lab results, as well as get to know the personality of the team members. please follow us on twitter @NRPiGEM or UEA iGEM 2012 page on Facebook.<br />
<br />
===Twitter===<br />
<br />
[[File:Twitter stats NRP iGEM.png]]<br />
<br />
[[File:TweetReach_nrpigem.pdf| '''Download a PDF of our twitter statistics''']]<br />
<br />
===Facebook===<br />
<br />
Creating social media pages also allowed us to access information about who was checking our page out, showing interesting information, showing that social media techniques such as facebook attracted mostly 18-24 years olds interest, and that it attracted no attention from those above 65. Therefore the team though it was important to promote our project, not only through the internet, but also other techniques such as newspaper articles and radio shows. <br />
<br />
The figure bellow shows the age ranges and gender of people who liked any posts from the NRP UEA iGEM team<br />
[[File:Likes.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
Below is a list of the location that people liked the teams statuses from. This highlighted that whilst the majority of followers were located in Norwich, we also had followers from a range of places over the world, highlighting the importance of using such social media to reach these followers. <br />
[[File:Location_of_likes.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
As mentioned the NRP UEA iGEM team created facebook statuses and tweets very regularly and as the graph below shows, there was a consistent increase in action and interest in the NRPUEA iGEM team throughout the summer. <br />
<br />
[[File:Posts_ratings.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
===Google+===<br />
<br />
We championed the use of Google+, a new social network from Google. We encouraged the UK iGEM teams to utilise Google+ to help make the 2012 UK team meetup as open and accessible as possible.<br />
<br />
==Media appearances==<br />
<br />
===STAR Radio===<br />
<br />
[http://www.star107.co.uk/farming-show.php STAR 107.9 FM's Farming Show]<br />
<br />
[[Image:NRPSTARRadio.jpg | 300px | right]]<br />
<br />
[http://www.star107.co.uk/podcasts/the-farming-show/show-23.mp3 Listen To Our Radio Show Appearence!]<br />
<br />
In early July the team travelled to Cambridge to appear on STAR Radio's program: "The Farming Show". We were interviewed by Mark Peters (one of the presenters) about synthetic biology, iGEM and our project. The interview went really well as Pascoe and Khadija got across all of the information that was needed in a clear and concise way, and the presenter was extremely helpful in making sure all of the salient points of the project were brought out. <br />
<br />
The team were able to give a brief description of what synthetic biology is before talking about the future applications of synthetic biology for medicine, agriculture and business. We were also able to mention our event at the Norwich Forum in late August in order to help promote it!<br />
<br />
A big thanks goes out to all at STAR Radio 107.9 for their help with the project in setting up the interview and allowing us air time to discuss iGEM and synthetic biology. Please visit the link above to hear the radio show.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Paper.jpg|100px|left]]<br />
<br />
===Newspapers===<br />
<br />
The team featured on the university website a few times through the summer, as well as a brief article in the Eastern daily press newspaper.This was great, as allowed the locals of Norwich to become aware not only of the team and iGEM, but also introduce many to the scientific branch of synthetic biology.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
==Engagement with the wider scientific community==<br />
<br />
=== The team presented at the John Innes Centre Synthetic Biology conference ===<br />
<br />
The john innes center (JIC) is a world leading center of plant research, the home of UEAs 2011 team, and is part of the Norwich research part. Researchers at the JIC recognized that synthetic biology was an important field and therefore hosted a synthetic biology confrere, with the aim of the day to enhance their reserches knowledge of what synthetic biology is, and projects in which synthetic biology is being used. when the NRP-UEA was invited to give a talk to the JIC researchers we were extremely excited, giving them an over view of what iGEM was, our project and how it developed over the summer, as well informing them about aspects of human practice the NRP- UEA team had carried out over the summer. the team took also showed them a clip of our futuristic applications film. The team enjoyed presenting their work and results, as well as using it as an opportunity to improve their presentation skills before the European jamboree. There seemed to be a real interest by their researchers in to our project, giving encouraging advice, with many asking further questions after the presentation. The researchers also seemed very interested to hear more about our human practices elements after the presentation, wanting to know what the public's opinion of the research carried out at Norwich research park was, as well as synthetic biology as a whole.<br />
[[File:JIC_Synthetic_Biology_Workshop.pdf]]<br />
<br />
===SGM microbiology synthetic biology (September 3rd -5th)===<br />
<br />
The society of general microbiology held a 3 day synthetic biology conference at the University of Warwick. Three members of the UEA NRP iGEM team were lucky enough to go and enjoy talks on streptococcus, molecular motors, and the dynamics of the genome and designer microbes. The event also gave the team member the opportunity to meet other synthetic biology scientists as well as informing them of the current advances in the field and inspiring them with the future possibilities. The event also allowed the team members to present a poster and therefore engage with the scientific community, both informing them more about the iGEM competition and our project . The team believed it was important for the scientists in the synthetic biology world to have the opportunity to meet undergraduate iGEM members, allowing them to express the skills it has allowed them to develop and to encourage further interest in to lab groups forming teams, and funding iGEM projects.<br />
<br />
=== The Biochemical Society kindly mentioned us in their blog post ===<br />
<br />
Not only did the Biochemical Society generously fund our project, they also were kind enough to feature our teams efforts in encouraging ethical debate around the subject of synthetic biology (via our Quanticare video) in their blog.<br />
<br />
[http://biochemicalsociety.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/exploring-ethical-dilemmas-of-synthetic-biology-with-the-nrp-uea-norwich-igem-team/ '''Click here to view the blog post''']<br />
<br />
This post was also seen by the BBSRC, who very kindly tweeted about it!<br />
<br />
[[File:BBSRC.png | centre | 600px]]</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Human_OutreachTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Human Outreach2012-09-26T22:37:51Z<p>Rkelwick: /* Conversing with others team */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
=Human Practices=<br />
<br />
<br />
The UEA NRP team really went up and beyond this year, carrying out a wide selection of activity's to inform the public of both synthetic biology and iGEM, aiming to raise awareness of this branch of science. We used many methods of communication in order to cater for a range of audiences, including a radio show, newspaper articles, pubic events and talks as well as collaborating with all the other UK teams, in order to organize the UK team meet up and steam it live on the internet. <br />
<br />
== iGEM collaborations==<br />
<br />
===The iGEM UK team meet up, hosted by the NRP-UEA team at Google campus London (Friday 17th August) The most open and publically accessible UK team meetup EVER===<br />
<br />
[[File:Hangout stats.png | center]]<br />
<br />
[[File:UKiGEMteams.jpg | 300px | right]]<br />
<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team organised and hosted the UK team meet up at Google campus in London. The NRPUEA iGEM team greeted the UK teams, provided refreshments and a lovely buffet lunch, as well as chairing the speeches and making sure the day ran smoothly. There was a great atmosphere at the meet up, and the event was a huge success.<br />
<br />
The day consisted of a number of guest speakers, including advice and tips for iGEM success from Dr. Tom Ellis (advisor of the 2009 winning iGEM project E.chromi) and an interactive talk on synthetic biology and science communication from the BBC science presenter, Nature editor and Guardian writer, Dr. Adam Rutherford. The UK iGEM teams presented a poster and a 15 minute presentation about their project. This gave the members of each team the chance to practice their presentation skills before the European team meet up, as well as a chance for others to ask questions and see what other project routes the other teams have taken. <br />
<br />
The event was also available '''LIVE on the internet''' via Google+ hangout, to allow the public and those that were unable to attend to still watch the presentations. Despite there being a few technical difficulties with the quality of the image, figures have shown that over 600 people watched the event.<br />
<br />
[https://dl.dropbox.com/u/9957127/UK%20iGEM%20Team%20Hangout%2017th%20Aug%202012%20Programme.pdf '''Click here for programme PDF''']<br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
<html><align=center><br />
<table align=center width=100% cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0><br />
<tr><br />
<td valign=absmiddle align=center><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Kv_Z14OIrKc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
</align><br />
</html><br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
=== Communicating with other iGEM teams===<br />
<br />
As part of our efforts to collaborate with the other iGEM teams this year we've made an effort to keep in contact with an array of iGEM teams. Here are some highlights:<br />
<br />
- We communicated with all of the UK iGEM teams via Twitter, Email, Facebook and Google+ before, during and after the UK team meet up.<br />
<br />
- We tweeted with many other iGEM teams from around the world and closely followed the iGEM community.<br />
<br />
- We video called the St Andrews iGEM team via Google+ Hang-out to discuss our projects further as well as to seek advice about the arrangements for the UK team meet-up.<br />
<br />
- Our advisor Richard Kelwick was interviewed by the Edinburgh iGEM team via Skype about our teams perspectives on public awareness and understanding of synthetic biology.<br />
<br />
- We visited the Cambridge team near the beginning of our project and they were kind enough to give us a tour of their labs. <br />
<br />
- Finally, the British Columbia team sent us a questionnaire about intellectual property that we happily filled out.<br />
<br />
==Public engagement==<br />
<br />
===The Future of Science event held at the forum, Norwich (Sunday 19th August)===<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Forum_team.JPG | 300px| right]]<br />
<br />
<br />
The Forum is located at the heart of the city of Norwich, and hosts a wide range of free events and exhibits to be enjoyed by the whole community. The venue is packed with restaurants, cafes and shops, as well as being home to Norwich library and BBC East Anglia. <br />
<br />
[[File:Poster for Forum.jpg | 250px | left]]<br />
<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team were fortunate enough to hold an interactive day at the Forum, giving the public a chance to engage within the world of synthetic biology. Before the date of the event, the team increased awareness via a range of techniques, including posters, leaflets and newspaper and internet adverts, including the Forums website. This resulted with a large turnout at the event, including the local press. <br />
<br />
At the Future of Science event, the team presented a selection of informative posters, revealed their new film on a large screen, as well as showing examples of work carried out by the students during iGEM. For example, the public could view ''E.coli'' which had been transformed with GFP within a UV light box, as well as carrying out a counting colonies exercise. The NRPUEA team also created a range of synthetic biology educational material for the event, to inform the public of the concepts and terminology of synthetic biology. The different activities were designed to interest a selection of different ages. The educational resources include a range of quizzes and worksheets such as crosswords and matching exercises.<br />
<br />
[[File:Child_making_plasmid.jpg |300px | right]]<br />
<br />
For younger children we designed a colourful jigsaw plasmid (as seen in image). The idea of this activity was for the participants to choose jigsaw pieces that represented the genes that code for certain characteristics, such as green or red hair, and piece them together to form a complete plasmid. Once they had designed their plasmid they used a biscuit base, icing of different colours and various sweets to create a "biscuit creature" that corresponded to the plasmid they had created. The learning outcome of this activity was to give the children an understanding that a different selection of genes, results in different characteristics, and that editing the DNA can result in a change in the characteristics. The activity was very popular and most of the participants seemed to understand this concept, as well as having great fun.<br />
<br />
The event attracted a range of ages, as well as mixed levels of previous interest into synthetic biology. It also became clear that many members of the public knew very little about synthetic biology, and therefore were very interested in finding out more about the new branch of biology and the iGEM competition. The NRPUEA iGEM team also took the opportunity to talk to the public and listen to their opinions about the work the iGEM teams are carrying out, which demonstrated how mixed the view of the public were. The day was a huge success.<br />
<br />
'''Synthetic Biology activity sheets'''<br />
<br />
[[File:Word_Search_of_Synthetic_Biology.pdf]],<br />
[[File:Decode_Disney.pdf]],<br />
[[File:Questions_comprehensive.pdf]],[[File:Decode_Music_Artists_and_Films.pdf]],[[File:Word_Search_of_Synthetic_Biology.pdf]]<br />
<br />
=== Creation of futuristic company, Quanticare and production of a though-provoking film===<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Tattoo1.png |300px]][[File:QuanticareLogo_(2).png |300px]][[File:Tattoo2.png |300px]]<br />
<br />
<br />
As part of our human practices we decided to look into an artistic approach to bringing synthetic biology to a wider audience. As part of this we created "Quanticare", a fictitious and futuristic company forming on the back of a rise to prominence of synthetic biology over the next few years, as well as the results of our own projects on nitric oxide sensing and the comparator circuit. The fictitious company's latest development is to introduce a visual bio sensors in to the human body in the form of a tattoo-based health monitor, ''Cura''. <br />
<br />
<br />
Not only did the development of the fictitious company allow the team to explore potential future applications of synthetic biology and bio sensors, but also via the creation of a film , fuel a range of ethical questions. The team released the video on the day of the Wiki Freeze as well as bringing transferable tattoo samples of ''Cura'' to the European Jamboree as a form of marketing for the video and concept as a whole. <br />
<br />
<br />
The team also produced a film with Amy Congdon exploring ''Cura'' itself and its many applications. They decided to angle the film as a product launch in order to capture the imagination and bring Quanticare and ''Cura'' to the public as a realistic future involving synthetic biology. The film is available to view below, we thank the Biochemical Society for their outreach grant to fund this film.<br />
<br />
<html><center><table width=100% cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 align=center><tr><td valign=absmiddle align=center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/StNFePmymbc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></td></tr></table></center></html><br />
<br />
<br />
<html><font size=3pt><b>Please check out out <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details!</b></font></html><br />
<br />
==Social Media==<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team has been VERY active on a range of social media over the summer.Any one is welcome to follow the team on Facebook or twitter. The team keep everyone updated on what is going on, both in the lab and in our spare time. This has been a great method of connecting with the public, companies,researchers, as well as getting in touch with other iGEM teams. The NRPUEA iGEM team believe human out reach via social media is important since it allows the public to follow the teams achievements and lab results, as well as get to know the personality of the team members. please follow us on twitter @NRPiGEM or UEA iGEM 2012 page on Facebook.<br />
<br />
===Twitter===<br />
<br />
[[File:Twitter stats NRP iGEM.png]]<br />
<br />
[[File:TweetReach_nrpigem.pdf| '''Download a PDF of our twitter statistics''']]<br />
<br />
===Facebook===<br />
<br />
Creating social media pages also allowed us to access information about who was checking our page out, showing interesting information, showing that social media techniques such as facebook attracted mostly 18-24 years olds interest, and that it attracted no attention from those above 65. Therefore the team though it was important to promote our project, not only through the internet, but also other techniques such as newspaper articles and radio shows. <br />
<br />
The figure bellow shows the age ranges and gender of people who liked any posts from the NRP UEA iGEM team<br />
[[File:Likes.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
Below is a list of the location that people liked the teams statuses from. This highlighted that whilst the majority of followers were located in Norwich, we also had followers from a range of places over the world, highlighting the importance of using such social media to reach these followers. <br />
[[File:Location_of_likes.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
As mentioned the NRP UEA iGEM team created facebook statuses and tweets very regularly and as the graph below shows, there was a consistent increase in action and interest in the NRPUEA iGEM team throughout the summer. <br />
<br />
[[File:Posts_ratings.png |600px| centre]]<br />
<br />
===Google+===<br />
<br />
We championed the use of Google+, a new social network from Google. We encouraged the UK iGEM teams to utilise Google+ to help make the 2012 UK team meetup as open and accessible as possible.<br />
<br />
==Media appearances==<br />
<br />
===STAR Radio===<br />
<br />
[http://www.star107.co.uk/farming-show.php STAR 107.9 FM's Farming Show]<br />
<br />
[[Image:NRPSTARRadio.jpg | 300px | right]]<br />
<br />
[http://www.star107.co.uk/podcasts/the-farming-show/show-23.mp3 Listen To Our Radio Show Appearence!]<br />
<br />
In early July the NRP UEA team travelled to Cambridge to appear on STAR Radio's "The Business Hub" and "The Farming Show". They were interviewed by Mark, one of the presenters, about synthetic biology, iGEM, and our project. The interview went really well as Pascoe and Khadija got across all the information that was needed in a clear and concise way, and Mark was extremely helpful in making sure all the salient points of the project were brought out. <br />
<br />
The team were able to give a brief description of what synthetic biology is before talking about the future applications of synthetic biology for medicine, agriculture and business. We were also able to mention our event at the Norwich Forum in late August in order to help promote it!<br />
<br />
A big thanks goes out to all at STAR Radio 107.9 for their help with the project in setting up the interview and allowing us air time to discuss iGEM and synthetic biology. Please visit the link above to hear the radio show.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Paper.jpg|100px|left]]<br />
<br />
===Newspapers===<br />
<br />
The team featured on the university website a few times through the summer, as well as a brief article in the Eastern daily press newspaper.This was great, as allowed the locals of Norwich to become aware not only of the team and iGEM, but also introduce many to the scientific branch of synthetic biology.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
==Engagement with the wider scientific community==<br />
<br />
=== The team presented at the John Innes Centre Synthetic Biology conference ===<br />
<br />
The john innes center (JIC) is a world leading center of plant research, the home of UEAs 2011 team, and is part of the Norwich research part. Researchers at the JIC recognized that synthetic biology was an important field and therefore hosted a synthetic biology confrere, with the aim of the day to enhance their reserches knowledge of what synthetic biology is, and projects in which synthetic biology is being used. when the NRP-UEA was invited to give a talk to the JIC researchers we were extremely excited, giving them an over view of what iGEM was, our project and how it developed over the summer, as well informing them about aspects of human practice the NRP- UEA team had carried out over the summer. the team took also showed them a clip of our futuristic applications film. The team enjoyed presenting their work and results, as well as using it as an opportunity to improve their presentation skills before the European jamboree. There seemed to be a real interest by their researchers in to our project, giving encouraging advice, with many asking further questions after the presentation. The researchers also seemed very interested to hear more about our human practices elements after the presentation, wanting to know what the public's opinion of the research carried out at Norwich research park was, as well as synthetic biology as a whole.<br />
[[File:JIC_Synthetic_Biology_Workshop.pdf]]<br />
<br />
===SGM microbiology synthetic biology (September 3rd -5th)===<br />
<br />
The society of general microbiology held a 3 day synthetic biology conference at the University of Warwick. Three members of the UEA NRP iGEM team were lucky enough to go and enjoy talks on streptococcus, molecular motors, and the dynamics of the genome and designer microbes. The event also gave the team member the opportunity to meet other synthetic biology scientists as well as informing them of the current advances in the field and inspiring them with the future possibilities. The event also allowed the team members to present a poster and therefore engage with the scientific community, both informing them more about the iGEM competition and our project . The team believed it was important for the scientists in the synthetic biology world to have the opportunity to meet undergraduate iGEM members, allowing them to express the skills it has allowed them to develop and to encourage further interest in to lab groups forming teams, and funding iGEM projects.<br />
<br />
=== The Biochemical Society kindly mentioned us in their blog post ===<br />
<br />
Not only did the Biochemical Society generously fund our project, they also were kind enough to feature our teams efforts in encouraging ethical debate around the subject of synthetic biology (via our Quanticare video) in their blog.<br />
<br />
[http://biochemicalsociety.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/exploring-ethical-dilemmas-of-synthetic-biology-with-the-nrp-uea-norwich-igem-team/ '''Click here to view the blog post''']<br />
<br />
This post was also seen by the BBSRC, who very kindly tweeted about it!<br />
<br />
[[File:BBSRC.png | centre | 600px]]</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Human_OutreachTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Human Outreach2012-09-26T22:25:51Z<p>Rkelwick: /* The iGEM UK team meet up, hosted by the NRP-UEA team at Google campus London (Friday 17th August) The most open and publically accessible UK team meetup EVER */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
=Human Practices=<br />
<br />
<br />
The UEA NRP team really went up and beyond this year, carrying out a wide selection of activity's to inform the public of both synthetic biology and iGEM, aiming to raise awareness of this branch of science. We used many methods of communication in order to cater for a range of audiences, including a radio show, newspaper articles, pubic events and talks as well as collaborating with all the other UK teams, in order to organize the UK team meet up and steam it live on the internet. <br />
<br />
== iGEM collaborations==<br />
<br />
===The iGEM UK team meet up, hosted by the NRP-UEA team at Google campus London (Friday 17th August) The most open and publically accessible UK team meetup EVER===<br />
<br />
[[File:Hangout stats.png | center]]<br />
<br />
[[File:UKiGEMteams.jpg | 300px | right]]<br />
<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team organised and hosted the UK team meet up at Google campus in London. The NRPUEA iGEM team greeted the UK teams, provided refreshments and a lovely buffet lunch, as well as chairing the speeches and making sure the day ran smoothly. There was a great atmosphere at the meet up, and the event was a huge success.<br />
<br />
The day consisted of a number of guest speakers, including advice and tips for iGEM success from Dr. Tom Ellis (advisor of the 2009 winning iGEM project E.chromi) and an interactive talk on synthetic biology and science communication from the BBC science presenter, Nature editor and Guardian writer, Dr. Adam Rutherford. The UK iGEM teams presented a poster and a 15 minute presentation about their project. This gave the members of each team the chance to practice their presentation skills before the European team meet up, as well as a chance for others to ask questions and see what other project routes the other teams have taken. <br />
<br />
The event was also available '''LIVE on the internet''' via Google+ hangout, to allow the public and those that were unable to attend to still watch the presentations. Despite there being a few technical difficulties with the quality of the image, figures have shown that over 600 people watched the event.<br />
<br />
[https://dl.dropbox.com/u/9957127/UK%20iGEM%20Team%20Hangout%2017th%20Aug%202012%20Programme.pdf '''Click here for programme PDF''']<br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
<html><align=center><br />
<table align=center width=100% cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0><br />
<tr><br />
<td valign=absmiddle align=center><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Kv_Z14OIrKc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
</align><br />
</html><br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
=== Conversing with others team===<br />
<br />
As part of our efforts to collaborate with the other iGEM teams this year we've made an effort to contact various teams in addition to the UK team meet-up.<br />
<br />
- We have have had talks with the Edinburgh iGEM team via Google Hang-out to discuss our projects further as well as arrangements for the UK team meet-up.<br />
<br />
- We visited the Cambridge team near the beginning of our project and they were kind enough to give us a tour of their labs. <br />
<br />
- Finally, the British Columbia team sent us a questionnaire that we happily filled out.<br />
<br />
==Public engagement==<br />
<br />
===The Future of Science event held at the forum, Norwich (Sunday 19th August)===<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Forum_team.JPG | 300px| right]]<br />
<br />
<br />
The Forum is located at the heart of the city of Norwich, and hosts a wide range of free events and exhibits to be enjoyed by the whole community. The venue is packed with restaurants, cafes and shops, as well as being home to Norwich library and BBC East Anglia. <br />
<br />
[[File:Poster for Forum.jpg | 250px | left]]<br />
<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team were fortunate enough to hold an interactive day at the Forum, giving the public a chance to engage within the world of synthetic biology. Before the date of the event, the team increased awareness via a range of techniques, including posters, leaflets and newspaper and internet adverts, including the Forums website. This resulted with a large turnout at the event, including the local press. <br />
<br />
At the Future of Science event, the team presented a selection of informative posters, revealed their new film on a large screen, as well as showing examples of work carried out by the students during iGEM. For example, the public could view ''E.coli'' which had been transformed with GFP within a UV light box, as well as carrying out a counting colonies exercise. The NRPUEA team also created a range of synthetic biology educational material for the event, to inform the public of the concepts and terminology of synthetic biology. The different activities were designed to interest a selection of different ages. The educational resources include a range of quizzes and worksheets such as crosswords and matching exercises.<br />
<br />
[[File:Child_making_plasmid.jpg |300px | right]]<br />
<br />
For younger children we designed a colourful jigsaw plasmid (as seen in image). The idea of this activity was for the participants to choose jigsaw pieces that represented the genes that code for certain characteristics, such as green or red hair, and piece them together to form a complete plasmid. Once they had designed their plasmid they used a biscuit base, icing of different colours and various sweets to create a "biscuit creature" that corresponded to the plasmid they had created. The learning outcome of this activity was to give the children an understanding that a different selection of genes, results in different characteristics, and that editing the DNA can result in a change in the characteristics. The activity was very popular and most of the participants seemed to understand this concept, as well as having great fun.<br />
<br />
The event attracted a range of ages, as well as mixed levels of previous interest into synthetic biology. It also became clear that many members of the public knew very little about synthetic biology, and therefore were very interested in finding out more about the new branch of biology and the iGEM competition. The NRPUEA iGEM team also took the opportunity to talk to the public and listen to their opinions about the work the iGEM teams are carrying out, which demonstrated how mixed the view of the public were. The day was a huge success.<br />
<br />
'''Synthetic Biology activity sheets'''<br />
<br />
[[File:Word_Search_of_Synthetic_Biology.pdf]],<br />
[[File:Decode_Disney.pdf]],<br />
[[File:Questions_comprehensive.pdf]],[[File:Decode_Music_Artists_and_Films.pdf]],[[File:Word_Search_of_Synthetic_Biology.pdf]]<br />
<br />
=== Creation of futuristic company, Quanticare and production of a though-provoking film===<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Tattoo1.png |300px]][[File:QuanticareLogo_(2).png |300px]][[File:Tattoo2.png |300px]]<br />
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<br />
As part of our human practices we decided to look into an artistic approach to bringing synthetic biology to a wider audience. As part of this we created "Quanticare", a fictitious and futuristic company forming on the back of a rise to prominence of synthetic biology over the next few years, as well as the results of our own projects on nitric oxide sensing and the comparator circuit. The fictitious company's latest development is to introduce a visual bio sensors in to the human body in the form of a tattoo-based health monitor, ''Cura''. <br />
<br />
<br />
Not only did the development of the fictitious company allow the team to explore potential future applications of synthetic biology and bio sensors, but also via the creation of a film , fuel a range of ethical questions. The team released the video on the day of the Wiki Freeze as well as bringing transferable tattoo samples of ''Cura'' to the European Jamboree as a form of marketing for the video and concept as a whole. <br />
<br />
<br />
The team also produced a film with Amy Congdon exploring ''Cura'' itself and its many applications. They decided to angle the film as a product launch in order to capture the imagination and bring Quanticare and ''Cura'' to the public as a realistic future involving synthetic biology. The film is available to view below, we thank the Biochemical Society for their outreach grant to fund this film.<br />
<br />
<html><center><table width=100% cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 align=center><tr><td valign=absmiddle align=center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/StNFePmymbc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></td></tr></table></center></html><br />
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<html><font size=3pt><b>Please check out out <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details!</b></font></html><br />
<br />
==Social Media==<br />
The NRPUEA iGEM team has been VERY active on a range of social media over the summer.Any one is welcome to follow the team on Facebook or twitter. The team keep everyone updated on what is going on, both in the lab and in our spare time. This has been a great method of connecting with the public, companies,researchers, as well as getting in touch with other iGEM teams. The NRPUEA iGEM team believe human out reach via social media is important since it allows the public to follow the teams achievements and lab results, as well as get to know the personality of the team members. please follow us on twitter @NRPiGEM or UEA iGEM 2012 page on Facebook.<br />
<br />
===Twitter===<br />
<br />
[[File:Twitter stats NRP iGEM.png]]<br />
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[[File:TweetReach_nrpigem.pdf| '''Download a PDF of our twitter statistics''']]<br />
<br />
===Facebook===<br />
<br />
Creating social media pages also allowed us to access information about who was checking our page out, showing interesting information, showing that social media techniques such as facebook attracted mostly 18-24 years olds interest, and that it attracted no attention from those above 65. Therefore the team though it was important to promote our project, not only through the internet, but also other techniques such as newspaper articles and radio shows. <br />
<br />
The figure bellow hows the age ranges and gender of people who liked any posts from the NRP UEA iGEM team<br />
[[File:Likes.png |600px| centre]]<br />
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Below is a list of the location that people liked the teams statuses from. This highlighted that the majority of followers were located in Norwich, however also many from a range of places over the world, therefore highlighting the importance of using such social media to reach these followers. <br />
[[File:Location_of_likes.png |600px| centre]]<br />
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As mentioned the NRP UEA iGEM team made facebook statuses and tweets very regularly and as the graph below shows, there was consistently a increase in action and interest for the NRPUEA iGEM team after. <br />
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[[File:Posts_ratings.png |600px| centre]]<br />
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===Google+===<br />
<br />
We championed the use of Google+, a new social network from Google. We encouraged the UK iGEM teams to utilise Google+ to help make the 2012 UK team meetup as open and accessible as possible.<br />
<br />
==Media appearances==<br />
<br />
===STAR Radio===<br />
<br />
[http://www.star107.co.uk/farming-show.php STAR 107.9 FM's Farming Show]<br />
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[[Image:NRPSTARRadio.jpg | 300px | right]]<br />
<br />
[http://www.star107.co.uk/podcasts/the-farming-show/show-23.mp3 Listen To Our Radio Show Appearence!]<br />
<br />
In early July the NRP UEA team travelled to Cambridge to appear on STAR Radio's "The Business Hub" and "The Farming Show". They were interviewed by Mark, one of the presenters, about synthetic biology, iGEM, and our project. The interview went really well as Pascoe and Khadija got across all the information that was needed in a clear and concise way, and Mark was extremely helpful in making sure all the salient points of the project were brought out. <br />
<br />
The team were able to give a brief description of what synthetic biology is before talking about the future applications of synthetic biology for medicine, agriculture and business. We were also able to mention our event at the Norwich Forum in late August in order to help promote it!<br />
<br />
A big thanks goes out to all at STAR Radio 107.9 for their help with the project in setting up the interview and allowing us air time to discuss iGEM and synthetic biology. Please visit the link above to hear the radio show.<br />
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<br />
[[File:Paper.jpg|100px|left]]<br />
<br />
===Newspapers===<br />
<br />
The team featured on the university website a few times through the summer, as well as a brief article in the Eastern daily press newspaper.This was great, as allowed the locals of Norwich to become aware not only of the team and iGEM, but also introduce many to the scientific branch of synthetic biology.<br />
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<br />
<br />
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<br />
==Engagement with the wider scientific community==<br />
<br />
=== The team presented at the John Innes Centre Synthetic Biology conference ===<br />
<br />
The john innes center (JIC) is a world leading center of plant research, the home of UEAs 2011 team, and is part of the Norwich research part. Researchers at the JIC recognized that synthetic biology was an important field and therefore hosted a synthetic biology confrere, with the aim of the day to enhance their reserches knowledge of what synthetic biology is, and projects in which synthetic biology is being used. when the NRP-UEA was invited to give a talk to the JIC researchers we were extremely excited, giving them an over view of what iGEM was, our project and how it developed over the summer, as well informing them about aspects of human practice the NRP- UEA team had carried out over the summer. the team took also showed them a clip of our futuristic applications film. The team enjoyed presenting their work and results, as well as using it as an opportunity to improve their presentation skills before the European jamboree. There seemed to be a real interest by their researchers in to our project, giving encouraging advice, with many asking further questions after the presentation. The researchers also seemed very interested to hear more about our human practices elements after the presentation, wanting to know what the public's opinion of the research carried out at Norwich research park was, as well as synthetic biology as a whole.<br />
[[File:JIC_Synthetic_Biology_Workshop.pdf]]<br />
<br />
===SGM microbiology synthetic biology (September 3rd -5th)===<br />
<br />
The society of general microbiology held a 3 day synthetic biology conference at the University of Warwick. Three members of the UEA NRP iGEM team were lucky enough to go and enjoy talks on streptococcus, molecular motors, and the dynamics of the genome and designer microbes. The event also gave the team member the opportunity to meet other synthetic biology scientists as well as informing them of the current advances in the field and inspiring them with the future possibilities. The event also allowed the team members to present a poster and therefore engage with the scientific community, both informing them more about the iGEM competition and our project . The team believed it was important for the scientists in the synthetic biology world to have the opportunity to meet undergraduate iGEM members, allowing them to express the skills it has allowed them to develop and to encourage further interest in to lab groups forming teams, and funding iGEM projects.<br />
<br />
=== The Biochemical Society kindly mentioned us in their blog post ===<br />
<br />
Not only did the Biochemical Society generously fund our project, they also were kind enough to feature our teams efforts in encouraging ethical debate around the subject of synthetic biology (via our Quanticare video) in their blog.<br />
<br />
[http://biochemicalsociety.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/exploring-ethical-dilemmas-of-synthetic-biology-with-the-nrp-uea-norwich-igem-team/ '''Click here to view the blog post''']<br />
<br />
This post was also seen by the BBSRC, who very kindly tweeted about it!<br />
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[[File:BBSRC.png | centre | 600px]]</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuitTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit2012-09-26T21:06:41Z<p>Rkelwick: /* Introduction */</p>
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<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
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{{UEANRPProjects}}<br />
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[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre]]<br />
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Biological systems function on a great variety of different integrative mechanisms which include post-transcriptional attenuation. We believe that Synthetic Biology is at its most effective when these natural mechanisms are taken and applied in novel situations. This ethos we have sought to emulate by creating our own mechanism of post-transcriptional attentuation; the Comparator Circuit.<br />
<br />
<br />
==Introduction==<br />
<br />
In a previous project, the apparent lack of specificity of the pYear promoter BioBrick we looked to improve upon proved to be a minor difficulty that we felt had not been addressed previously in the Registry. Thus we decided to tackle the issue by devising a way of quantitatively measuring the output of NO with the non-specific promoter we were using through a novel gene regulation system.<br />
<br />
Using pairs of BioBricks that result in the complimentary binding of a pair of otherwise standard promoter and reporter constructs, a subtractive effect can be gained to result in altered translation relative to the availability of various substrates within the chassis environment.<br />
<br />
This is done via the comparator pairs design, which facilitates complete binding of both mRNAs ribosome binding sites when they are both present in the chassis' transcriptome.<br />
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Imagine you have two promoter biobricks, which both have the ability to sense the same substrates, but, critically, one of these promoter biobricks senses an extra substrate - the substrate you are interested in. The aim of the Comparator Pair of biobricks we have created is, when each of the pair is ligated to one of the promoter biobricks, to integrate these promoter outputs to result in a subtractive system that produces a quantitative output of the substrate of interest only. <br />
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When these promoter/comparator duplexes are added to different reporter proteins, the translation of these reporters are sequestered when both sequences are transcribed due to the presence of the same substrate. <br />
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So, for instance, if one of the promoters produces twice as many mRNA transcripts due to the extra substrate it is sensing...<br />
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<br><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2012/7/7e/Twice_the_reporter.png" width=350px align=middle><br><br />
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....then only the surplus mRNA transcripts of the second reporter gene will be translated. If the reporter used is a fluorescent protein then a fluorometer can be used to quantitatively determine the exact amount of a particular fluorescence and, as a result, the exact amount of the substrate of interest that was detected by the chassis.<br />
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An important part of the Comparator Circuit idea is the fact that there is potential of other Comparator Pairs being made to result in a family of biobricks existing on the registry. Different Comparator Pairs could thus be expressed simultaneously in the cell, working with different promoters to quantify a number of different substrates in tandem within the same chassis.<br />
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The video below describes the project in further detail:<br />
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==The Comparator Circuit Family.==<br />
<br />
The comparator biobricks submitted do not stand alone; they are the first of a family of biobricks. The two that have already been synthesised will complimentary bind to one another but more can be made by following the steps that we have already defined. In the cell they will bind in pairs without interfering with the function of other comparator circuit pairs. This allows for an almost limitless range of combinations of circuits all functioning together in the same cell.<br />
<br />
[[File:IGEM_comparator_circuit_familly_diagram_1_12.09.26.png | 600px | centre | thumbnail | '''Figure 1.''' ''Generic make up of comparator circuit biobricks. “c” indicates reverse complement, so “1c” is reverse complement of “1” etc. Arrows indicate five prime to three prime. This figure represents a pair of biobricks, blue is one biobrick and orange is the other."]]<br />
<br />
'''Comparator circuit construction'''<br />
<br />
The biobricks that make up the comparator circuit consist of a number of complimentary sections of DNA referred to as zips. The generic comparator circuit biobrick hair is shown in figure 1. It is important to note that the two strands are anti-parallel<br />
<br />
'''Zip 1''' <br />
<br />
ZIP 1 is at the five prime end of the biobrick sequence. Because in this biobrick ZIP 1 is located before the ribosome binding site, it is untranslated. However because the two strands are antiparallel, the reverse complement of ZIP 1 will be translated. This results in the reverse complement of ZIP 1 to form a tag on the synthesised protein. Therefor is is essential that it must encode amino acids that will not disrupt the structure of the protein and be made up of non-rare codons. <br />
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'''The ribosome binding site and its reverse complement with bulges'''<br />
<br />
For the two strands to anneal, it it is necessary to have the reverse complement of the ribosome binding site on the other strands. To remove any error caused by different translation rates, it is best to use the same ribosome binding site (RBS) on each strand. However this can cause problems because a strand, that contains both the ribosome binding site and its reverse complement, can complimentary bind it to itself across that sequence causing the RBS to be sequestered. To prevent this problem the RBS reverse complement is made up of alternate codons of complimentary and non-complimentary sections. In addition it is necessary for the binding between the two strands to be entropetically stable. This can be achieved by design of the RBS, its complement and bulges. <br />
<br />
This means that it is necessary for sections either side of the ribosome binding site and its complement and bulges to make binding between the two strands entropetically stable<br />
<br />
'''ZIP 2'''<br />
<br />
ZIP 2 forms the complimentary strand between the RBS and the RBS complement on both strands; because it is untranslated it can be as long as is desired. The longer it is, the more stable the construct becomes. To achieve this a high GC content would be advisable.<br />
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'''ZIP 3'''<br />
<br />
ZIP 3 is downstream of the RBS. It is therefore translated and consequently must contain no rare codons nor code for any amino acids that might affect the function of the protein.<br />
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'''Theoretical modelling'''<br />
<br />
As a final stage, it is necessary to check for internal interactions within the biobrick. There will always to a degree be formation of secondary structure but as long as the RBS is exposed, it can be expected that the biobrick will be functional. The efficiency can be increased by decreasing the change in Gibbs free energy caused by formation of 2nd structures. It is possible to use programs such as M fold or oligoanalyser to achieve this.<br />
<br />
==Planning==<br />
<br />
[[File:CombinedMRNA.png | thumb | Figure 2 - Both BioBricks of the Comparator Circuit bound together.]]<br />
<br />
Assembling the various gene constructs was not without its challenges. Due to the fact that complimentary ‘zips’ within the sequence were designed to surround the ribosome binding site, it was often the case that the DNA sequence would form unwanted secondary structures that could serve to inhibit the translation of the mRNA in its uncoupled state. <br />
<br />
Therefore, when designing the DNA, care was taken to avoid these structure obstructing sequences required for translation of the mRNA. Simultaneously only common codons for the chassis of interest, ''E. coli'', could be used and these codon had to code for amino acids that were unlikely to change the function of the protein product. This is required since the zip sequences extend past the translational start codon. Thus our construct will add a small N-terminal tag to any reporter protein it was attached to.<br />
<br />
Using IDT's very helpful online tool, Oligo Analyser, we were able to design sequences of both constructs that fulfilled these requirements. These sequences are theoretically bind together when transcribed in the same chassi, yet leave the RBS open and very importantly infold when either stand of mRNA lacks its counterpart it could complementary bind to.<br />
<br />
The software produced figures demonstrating the likely secondary structure of the constructs made and their Gibbs Free Energy value at specific temperatures. From this, trial and error eventually resulted in the construction of two BioBricks that have free ribosome binding sites when in isolation, but bind to sequester translation of both mRNAs when bound together (''Figure 2.'').<br />
<br />
Due to the stop codon present in the scars of Assembly Standard 10 BioBricks, we decided that our constructs would have to be an Assembly Standard 23 BioBrick. Although the use of Bioscaffolds produced by previous iGEM teams was considered, time constraints meant that changing the Assembly Standard we would use for assembly of our BioBricks would be the most convenient solution.<br />
<br />
==Experiments==<br />
<br />
Due to the limited time we had available, it was decided fairly early on that the comparator circuit BioBricks could only be characterised theoretically. However, our confidence in the system meant that we felt obliged to synthesise these BioBricks and submit them to the registry. It is our hope that we will be granted lab space after the regional jamboree to characterise these BioBricks and submit our findings on their respective registry experience page in due course. In preparation for this, the team have devised a provisional experimentation design for these characterisation studies.<br />
<br />
==Future Experiments==<br />
<br />
Further cloning experiments hope to be carried out, ligating each comparator circuit biobrick with a different reporter and promoter. Initially, for proof of concept, the promoters used would be simple promoters that have overlapping specificity, but one substance will only act as an inducer for one of these promoters (e.g. the pYEAR and SoxR promoters, which both sense small nitrogen species, but SoxR also senses superoxides). <br />
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Reporter biobricks would also be ligated, with these reporters being as far apart in wavelength of the florescence produced as possible. Both DNA sequences, each containing one half of the comparator circuit system, with be transformed into an E. coli chassis and the amount of either fluorophore (as seen via fluorometer studies) would indicate the translation of either sequences. It is hoped that in simulated environments containing higher levels of, using the example above, superoxides, the corresponding fluorescent protein will be translated over its counterpart.<br />
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Ultimately it is hoped that we would be able to ligate our comparator circuit BioBricks to NO-sensing promoters and effector enzymes to control NO levels/reporters to detect NO levels quantitatively - which is where our fictitious brand Quanticare comes in. Should we have time, we'd like to investigate if the transfection of mammalian cells with these constructs, as seen in our science-fiction self-diagnostic tattoos, is plausible via the transfection of cancer cell lines with the DNA constructs.<br />
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Beyond the addition of promoters and transformation into a bacterial chassis, further experiments which would need to be carried out are: <br />
<br />
1) A growth study into whether the incorporation of the comparator circuits affect the growth of the chassis compared to growth without can be tested<br />
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2) A fluorescence study into whether the comparator circuit functions as expected. This would involve the use of a fluorometer and FACs to obtain a comprehensive view of the proteins.<br />
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3) A cytotoxic study involving a cytotoxic assay similar to the one carried out on BM and MB, however, this will test whether the accumulation of silenced RNA transcripts will affect the cell.<br />
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4) Study into the sensitivity of the promoters- this be a measure of threshold levels of a promoter before it expresses.<br />
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==Theoretical Characterisation==<br />
The idea of the comparator circuit is to provide a modular method of signal integration that can produce a sensor which can specifically and quantitatively measure different chemical species within the cell using non specific promoters. Through mathematical modelling, an equation has been assembled which can predict the expression of each of the reporter proteins such as RFP and CFP. <br />
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[[File:Equation_7.png| 300px | center]] <br />
Figure: Theoretical equation to predict the degree of expression of Construct 1 and 2. <br />
The full equation has been laid out in a way that is relevant only to Construct 1, however, the numbers can be reversed to be relevant to Construct 2. For ease of explanation, everything described will be relevant to Construct 1.<br />
<br />
<br />
E = Proportion of expression rate of Construct 1 when both constructs are transcribed (i.e. there is knockdown of one construct) relative to the non-knocked down expression of Construct 1 when only Construct 1 is expressed. <br />
<br />
A = The rate of transcription of Construct 1 as a proportion of the maximum transcription rate. As a proportion this is measured on a scale of 0 - 1. As an example if the rate of transcription is half of the maximum rate, rate would be 0.5 (arbituary units). It can be assumed the rate of transcription of construct 1 and 2 due to cellular components (e.g. RNA polymerase) is the same, however, the rate of transcription initiation will dictate the transcription rate. The initiation is reliant on the chemical species interacting with the transcription factor which binds to the promoter (i.e. nitric oxide,nitrates,nitrites to PyeaR). The '1' and '2' refer to the Construct 1 or 2 and hence the promoter and the measured fluorescent protein attached (e.g GFP, RFP, CFP, etc).<br />
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L = The length of the Construct 1 in the DNA form that is transcribed (i.e the leader and protein coding region).<br />
<br />
Note: Leader refers to the section of RNA at the start of the mRNA that is not translated but has an effect on translation rate.<br />
<br />
C = The rate of transcription. Assuming the rate of transcription of Construct 1 and 2 are the same because the same ribosomes and RBS are involved.<br />
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T = Half life of Construct 1 when only Construct 1 is present; the natural half life of Construct 1.<br />
<br />
K = A constant of the biological system. This can only be measured through observation. <br />
<br />
<br />
The full equation is modelled on the basic equation of:<br />
<br />
[[File:Equation_2.png| 400px | center]]<br />
<br />
where E is the rate of expression and E(A1) is the same as that explained above.<br />
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<br />
The additional complexity factors in less assumptions, and mimics a biological system, more closely. Below is a breakdown of the full equation.<br />
<br />
[[File:Equation_3.png| 50px | left]]<br />
<br />
This refers to the number of Construct 1 RNA transcripts undergoing transcription at any one time. The length of DNA is particularly important when the chassis is bacterial. In bacteria, as there is no true nucleus, translation occurs simultaneously with transcription. Transcription affects the probability of interaction between construct 1 and 2 and therefore, they are less likely to be translated. As the measurement of fluorescence is the output directly related to the rate of translation, the overall equation measures translation, however, translation rate iis dependent on rate of transcription and degree of knockdown, and hence transcription is factored in here. L/C is the period of time taken for transcription to take place. It is the time in which translation can be initiated but it is unlikely that the two leaders will bind to one another <br />
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[[File:Equation_5.png| 150px | left]]<br />
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This part of the equation is the deduction of the knockdown of Construct 1 when there is Construct 2 expression and interaction. The biological constant, k, factors in that not all of construct 2 that is expressed will interact with construct 1 and vice versa. Hence, both exist despite construct 2 existing in small quantities. We believe that depending upon the assembly of the orientation of the two constructs within the plasmid, the interaction and hence the binding efficiency can be altered vastly. If the genes have opposite orientations, so that the termination sites are very close then the reduction of distance will increase the chances of interaction and hence make the sensory system more accurate.<br />
[[File:Equation_6.png| 120px | left]]<br />
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This part of the equation encompasses the natural half life of Construct 1 when it alone is expressed (i.e. no expression of or interaction with Construct 2). As described before in the modelling from the basic equation, this is the lower part of the equation and puts it in perspective of Construct 1 and gives expression as a porportion of the maximum transcription. The half life is also Construct 1's half life.<br />
<br />
So to bring it all together; the top half of the equation indicates the degree of translation of the RNA transcribed by the first promoter under any particular transcription rate of the two promoters in arbitrary units. To make this into a meaningful output it is divided by the maximum translation rate at that rate of transcription to equal E(A1); this indicates the degree of attenuation of one RNA from the other.<br />
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==Future Applications==<br />
<br />
The Comparator Circuit has the potential to have real world applications, particularly, as QuantiCare shows, in medicine. To give an example, by monitoring blood sugar levels quantitatively via specific promoters, the sequence following the comparator circuit could encode for insulin. This could be transfected into human cells and could be used to alleviate the symptoms associated with type I diabetes. <br />
<br />
Moving back to the specific nitrogen sensor, attaching these promoters to the comparator circuit biobricks and a gene for the synthesis of nitrogen reductase could result in a positive feedback loop to result in the tumour reducing in size. Macrophages naturally sense the presence of tumours in the body via their emission of nitric oxide. This could be taken one step further by adding nitrogen reductase to this system, where an excess of nitric oxide in the tumour environment. NO was seen to have cytotoxic properties in large amounts and, thus, a positive feedback loop could result in tumour apoptosis.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T20:56:37Z<p>Rkelwick: /* NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview */</p>
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==NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview==<br />
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Sensory Biobrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
====Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised. Our project consists of three components, read their summaries on this page or click on the images below to see more detailed information including our Biobrick characterisation data.====<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |300px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|6 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 BBa_K774000] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 BBa_K774001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 BBa_K774005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 BBa_K774006] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004]<br />
!align="left"|2 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774002 BBa_K774002] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774003 BBa_K774003]<br />
!align="left"|Theoretical Biobricks: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774100 BBa_K774100]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
====Existing iGEM Biobrick parts which we characterised during our project:====<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter BBa_K216005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP BBa_K381001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators BBa_E0420] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators BBa_K081014]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. <br />
<br />
We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have provided data to show that the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
Our 6 biobricks:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYeaR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Multiplicative circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the trp leader). the system has also been mathematically modeled. To find out more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates, nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
In addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T20:53:17Z<p>Rkelwick: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
==NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview==<br />
<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
====Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised. Our project consists of three components, read their summaries on this page or click on the images below to see more detailed information including our Biobrick characterisation data.====<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |300px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|6 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 BBa_K774000] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 BBa_K774001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 BBa_K774005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 BBa_K774006] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004]<br />
!align="left"|2 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774002 BBa_K774002] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774003 BBa_K774003]<br />
!align="left"|Theoretical Biobricks: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774100 BBa_K774100]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
====Existing iGEM Biobrick parts which we characterised during our project:====<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter BBa_K216005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP BBa_K381001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators BBa_E0420] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators BBa_K081014]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. <br />
<br />
We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have provided data to show that the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
Our 6 biobricks:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T17:56:35Z<p>Rkelwick: /* Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been</p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
==NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview==<br />
<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
====Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised. Our project consists of three components, read their summaries on this page or click on the images below to see more detailed information including our Biobrick characterisation data.====<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |300px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|6 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 BBa_K774000] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 BBa_K774001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 BBa_K774005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 BBa_K774006] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004]<br />
!align="left"|2 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774002 BBa_K774002] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774003 BBa_K774003]<br />
!align="left"|Theoretical Biobricks: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774100 BBa_K774100]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
====Existing iGEM Biobrick parts which we characterised during our project:====<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter BBa_K216005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP BBa_K381001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators BBa_E0420] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators BBa_K081014]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. <br />
<br />
We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have provided data to show that the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
Our 6 biobricks:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T17:55:39Z<p>Rkelwick: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
==NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview==<br />
<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
====Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.====<br />
<br />
Our project consists of three components, read their summaries on this page or click on the images below to see more detailed information including our Biobrick characterisation data. <br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |300px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|6 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 BBa_K774000] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 BBa_K774001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 BBa_K774005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 BBa_K774006] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004]<br />
!align="left"|2 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774002 BBa_K774002] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774003 BBa_K774003]<br />
!align="left"|Theoretical Biobricks: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774100 BBa_K774100]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
====Existing iGEM Biobrick parts which we characterised during our project:====<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter BBa_K216005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP BBa_K381001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators BBa_E0420] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators BBa_K081014]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. <br />
<br />
We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have provided data to show that the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
Our 6 biobricks:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T17:55:07Z<p>Rkelwick: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
==NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview==<br />
<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
====Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.====<br />
<br />
[Our project consists of three components, read their summaries on this page or click on the images below to see more detailed information including our Biobrick characterisation data.| 14pts ] <br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |300px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|6 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 BBa_K774000] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 BBa_K774001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 BBa_K774005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 BBa_K774006] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004]<br />
!align="left"|2 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774002 BBa_K774002] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774003 BBa_K774003]<br />
!align="left"|Theoretical Biobricks: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774100 BBa_K774100]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
====Existing iGEM Biobrick parts which we characterised during our project:====<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter BBa_K216005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP BBa_K381001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators BBa_E0420] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators BBa_K081014]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. <br />
<br />
We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have provided data to show that the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
Our 6 biobricks:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T17:53:50Z<p>Rkelwick: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
==NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview==<br />
<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
====Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.====<br />
<br />
====Our project consists of three components, read their summaries on this page or click on the images below to see more detailed information including our Biobrick characterisation data.====<br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |300px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|6 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 BBa_K774000] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 BBa_K774001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 BBa_K774005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 BBa_K774006] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004]<br />
!align="left"|2 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774002 BBa_K774002] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774003 BBa_K774003]<br />
!align="left"|Theoretical Biobricks: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774100 BBa_K774100]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
====Existing iGEM Biobrick parts which we characterised during our project:====<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter BBa_K216005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP BBa_K381001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators BBa_E0420] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators BBa_K081014]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. <br />
<br />
We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have provided data to show that the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
Our 6 biobricks:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T17:52:17Z<p>Rkelwick: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
==NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview==<br />
<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
====Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.====<br />
<br />
Our project consists of three components, read their summaries on this page or click on the images below to see more detailed information including our Biobrick characterisation data.<br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |300px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|6 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 BBa_K774000] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 BBa_K774001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 BBa_K774005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 BBa_K774006] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004]<br />
!align="left"|2 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774002 BBa_K774002] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774003 BBa_K774003]<br />
!align="left"|Theoretical Biobricks: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774100 BBa_K774100]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
====Existing iGEM Biobrick parts which we characterised during our project:====<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter BBa_K216005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP BBa_K381001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators BBa_E0420] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators BBa_K081014]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. <br />
<br />
We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have provided data to show that the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
Our 6 biobricks:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T17:51:36Z<p>Rkelwick: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
==NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview==<br />
<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
====Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.====<br />
<br />
'Our project consists of three components, read their summaries on this page or click on the images below to see more detailed information including our Biobrick characterisation data.'<br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |300px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|6 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 BBa_K774000] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 BBa_K774001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 BBa_K774005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 BBa_K774006] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004]<br />
!align="left"|2 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774002 BBa_K774002] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774003 BBa_K774003]<br />
!align="left"|Theoretical Biobricks: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774100 BBa_K774100]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
====Existing iGEM Biobrick parts which we characterised during our project:====<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter BBa_K216005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP BBa_K381001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators BBa_E0420] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators BBa_K081014]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. <br />
<br />
We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have provided data to show that the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
Our 6 biobricks:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T17:50:43Z<p>Rkelwick: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
==NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview==<br />
<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
====Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.<br />
<br />
Our project consists of three components, read their summaries on this page or click on the images below to see more detailed information including our Biobrick characterisation data.====<br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |300px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|6 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 BBa_K774000] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 BBa_K774001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 BBa_K774005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 BBa_K774006] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004]<br />
!align="left"|2 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774002 BBa_K774002] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774003 BBa_K774003]<br />
!align="left"|Theoretical Biobricks: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774100 BBa_K774100]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
====Existing iGEM Biobrick parts which we characterised during our project:====<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter BBa_K216005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP BBa_K381001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators BBa_E0420] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators BBa_K081014]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. <br />
<br />
We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have provided data to show that the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
Our 6 biobricks:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T17:49:50Z<p>Rkelwick: /* Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been</p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
==NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview==<br />
<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
====Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.====<br />
<br />
'''Our project consists of three components, read their summaries on this page or click on the images below to see more detailed information including our Biobrick characterisation data.'''<br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |300px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|6 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 BBa_K774000] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 BBa_K774001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 BBa_K774005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 BBa_K774006] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004]<br />
!align="left"|2 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774002 BBa_K774002] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774003 BBa_K774003]<br />
!align="left"|Theoretical Biobricks: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774100 BBa_K774100]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
====Existing iGEM Biobrick parts which we characterised during our project:====<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter BBa_K216005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP BBa_K381001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators BBa_E0420] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators BBa_K081014]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. <br />
<br />
We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have provided data to show that the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
Our 6 biobricks:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T17:49:11Z<p>Rkelwick: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
==NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview==<br />
<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
====Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.====<br />
<br />
''''Our project consists of three components, read their summaries on this page or click on the images below to see more detailed information including our Biobrick characterisation data.''''<br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |300px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|6 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 BBa_K774000] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 BBa_K774001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 BBa_K774005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 BBa_K774006] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004]<br />
!align="left"|2 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774002 BBa_K774002] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774003 BBa_K774003]<br />
!align="left"|Theoretical Biobricks: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774100 BBa_K774100]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
====Existing iGEM Biobrick parts which we characterised during our project:====<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter BBa_K216005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP BBa_K381001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators BBa_E0420] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators BBa_K081014]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. <br />
<br />
We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have provided data to show that the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
Our 6 biobricks:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T17:47:08Z<p>Rkelwick: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
==NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview==<br />
<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
====Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.====<br />
<br />
====Our project consists of three components, read their summaries on this page or click on the images below to see more detailed information including our Biobrick characterisation data.====<br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |300px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|6 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 BBa_K774000] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 BBa_K774001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 BBa_K774005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 BBa_K774006] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004]<br />
!align="left"|2 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774002 BBa_K774002] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774003 BBa_K774003]<br />
!align="left"|Theoretical Biobricks: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774100 BBa_K774100]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
====Existing iGEM Biobrick parts which we characterised during our project:====<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter BBa_K216005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP BBa_K381001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators BBa_E0420] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators BBa_K081014]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. <br />
<br />
We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have provided data to show that the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
Our 6 biobricks:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T17:45:51Z<p>Rkelwick: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
==NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview==<br />
<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
====Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.====<br />
<br />
Our project consists of three components, read their summaries on this page or click on the images below to see more detailed information including our Biobrick characterisation data.<br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |300px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|6 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 BBa_K774000] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 BBa_K774001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 BBa_K774005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 BBa_K774006] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004]<br />
!align="left"|2 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774002 BBa_K774002] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774003 BBa_K774003]<br />
!align="left"|Theoretical Biobricks: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774100 BBa_K774100]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
Existing iGEM Biobrick parts which we characterised during our project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter BBa_K216005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP BBa_K381001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators BBa_E0420] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators BBa_K081014]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. <br />
<br />
We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have provided data to show that the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
Our 6 biobricks:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T17:44:25Z<p>Rkelwick: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
==NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview==<br />
<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
====Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.====<br />
<br />
Our project consists of three components, read their summaries on this page or click on the images below to see more detailed information including our Biobrick characterisation data.<br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |300px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|6 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 BBa_K774000] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 BBa_K774001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 BBa_K774005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 BBa_K774006] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004]<br />
!align="left"|2 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774002 BBa_K774002] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774003 BBa_K774003]<br />
!align="left"|Theoretical Biobricks: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774100 BBa_K774100]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
Existing iGEM Biobrick parts which we characterised during our project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. <br />
<br />
We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have provided data to show that the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
Our 6 biobricks:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T17:39:33Z<p>Rkelwick: /* NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
==NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview==<br />
<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
====Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.====<br />
<br />
'''Our project consists of three components, read their summaries on this page or click on the images below to see more information including our Biobrick characterisation data.''' <br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |300px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|6 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 BBa_K774000] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 BBa_K774001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 BBa_K774005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 BBa_K774006] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004]<br />
!align="left"|2 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774002 BBa_K774002] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774003 BBa_K774003]<br />
!align="left"|Theoretical Biobricks: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774100 BBa_K774100]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
Existing iGEM Biobrick parts which we characterised during our project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. <br />
<br />
We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have provided data to show that the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
Our 6 biobricks:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T17:38:59Z<p>Rkelwick: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
==NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview==<br />
<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.<br />
<br />
'''Our project consists of three components, read their summaries on this page or click on the images below to see more information including our Biobrick characterisation data.''' <br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |300px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|6 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 BBa_K774000] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 BBa_K774001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 BBa_K774005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 BBa_K774006] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004]<br />
!align="left"|2 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774002 BBa_K774002] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774003 BBa_K774003]<br />
!align="left"|Theoretical Biobricks: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774100 BBa_K774100]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
Existing iGEM Biobrick parts which we characterised during our project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. <br />
<br />
We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have provided data to show that the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
Our 6 biobricks:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T17:32:04Z<p>Rkelwick: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
==NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview==<br />
<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.<br />
<br />
'''Our project consists of three components, read their summaries on this page or click on the images below to see more information including our Biobrick characterisation data.''' <br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |300px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|6 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 BBa_K774000] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 BBa_K774001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 BBa_K774005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 BBa_K774006] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004]<br />
!align="left"|2 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774002 BBa_K774002] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774003 BBa_K774003]<br />
!align="left"|Theoretical Biobricks: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774100 BBa_K774100]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Our hybrid promoter hopes to add to the systems already in the registry by creating a hybrid promoter that combines the bacterial promoter PyeaR and the mammalian CArG element , both of which respond to exogenous nitrogenous species. Combining the two would allow a more modular nitric oxide sensor that can be used in mammalian and bacterial cells interchangeably.<br />
<br />
<br />
Six new biobricks produced and submitted to the registry with characterisation from fluorescence-based experiments.<br />
<br />
Parts produced from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
<br />
Parts characterised from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have proved the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes.<br />
<br />
<br />
We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T17:28:58Z<p>Rkelwick: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
==NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview==<br />
<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.<br />
<br />
'''Our project consists of three components, read their summaries on this page or click on the images below to see more information including our Biobrick characterisation data.''' <br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |300px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|6 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 BBa_K774000] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 BBa_K774001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 BBa_K774005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 BBa_K774006] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004]<br />
!align="left"|2 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774002 BBa_K774002] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774003 BBa_K774003]<br />
!align="left"|[[x3]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Our hybrid promoter hopes to add to the systems already in the registry by creating a hybrid promoter that combines the bacterial promoter PyeaR and the mammalian CArG element , both of which respond to exogenous nitrogenous species. Combining the two would allow a more modular nitric oxide sensor that can be used in mammalian and bacterial cells interchangeably.<br />
<br />
<br />
Six new biobricks produced and submitted to the registry with characterisation from fluorescence-based experiments.<br />
<br />
Parts produced from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
<br />
Parts characterised from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have proved the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes.<br />
<br />
<br />
We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T17:27:00Z<p>Rkelwick: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
==NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview==<br />
<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.<br />
<br />
'''Our project consists of three components, read their summaries on this page or click on the images below to see more information including our Biobrick characterisation data.''' <br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |300px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|6 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 BBa_K774000] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 BBa_K774001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 BBa_K774005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 BBa_K774006] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004]<br />
!align="left"|[ 2 Biobricks created http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774002 BBa_K774002] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774003 BBa_K774003]<br />
!align="left"|[[x3]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Our hybrid promoter hopes to add to the systems already in the registry by creating a hybrid promoter that combines the bacterial promoter PyeaR and the mammalian CArG element , both of which respond to exogenous nitrogenous species. Combining the two would allow a more modular nitric oxide sensor that can be used in mammalian and bacterial cells interchangeably.<br />
<br />
<br />
Six new biobricks produced and submitted to the registry with characterisation from fluorescence-based experiments.<br />
<br />
Parts produced from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
<br />
Parts characterised from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have proved the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes.<br />
<br />
<br />
We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T17:23:59Z<p>Rkelwick: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
==NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview==<br />
<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.<br />
<br />
'''Our project consists of three components, read their summaries on this page or click on the images below to see more information including our Biobrick characterisation data.''' <br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |300px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|6 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 BBa_K774000] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 BBa_K774001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 BBa_K774005] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 BBa_K774006] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 BBa_K774004]<br />
!align="left"|[[x2]]<br />
!align="left"|[[x3]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Our hybrid promoter hopes to add to the systems already in the registry by creating a hybrid promoter that combines the bacterial promoter PyeaR and the mammalian CArG element , both of which respond to exogenous nitrogenous species. Combining the two would allow a more modular nitric oxide sensor that can be used in mammalian and bacterial cells interchangeably.<br />
<br />
<br />
Six new biobricks produced and submitted to the registry with characterisation from fluorescence-based experiments.<br />
<br />
Parts produced from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
<br />
Parts characterised from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have proved the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes.<br />
<br />
<br />
We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T17:21:57Z<p>Rkelwick: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
==NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview==<br />
<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.<br />
<br />
'''Our project consists of three components, read their summaries on this page or click on the images below to see more information including our Biobrick characterisation data.''' <br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |300px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|6 Biobricks created: [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 B-M Hybrid Promoter BBa_K774000] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 M-B Hybrid Promoter BBa_K774001] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP] ]]<br />
!align="left"|[[x2]]<br />
!align="left"|[[x3]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Our hybrid promoter hopes to add to the systems already in the registry by creating a hybrid promoter that combines the bacterial promoter PyeaR and the mammalian CArG element , both of which respond to exogenous nitrogenous species. Combining the two would allow a more modular nitric oxide sensor that can be used in mammalian and bacterial cells interchangeably.<br />
<br />
<br />
Six new biobricks produced and submitted to the registry with characterisation from fluorescence-based experiments.<br />
<br />
Parts produced from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
<br />
Parts characterised from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have proved the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes.<br />
<br />
<br />
We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T17:19:46Z<p>Rkelwick: /* NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
==NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview==<br />
<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.<br />
<br />
'''Our project consists of three components, read their summaries on this page or click on the images below to see more information including our Biobrick characterisation data.''' <br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |300px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[6 Biobricks created [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP] ]]<br />
!align="left"|[[x2]]<br />
!align="left"|[[x3]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Our hybrid promoter hopes to add to the systems already in the registry by creating a hybrid promoter that combines the bacterial promoter PyeaR and the mammalian CArG element , both of which respond to exogenous nitrogenous species. Combining the two would allow a more modular nitric oxide sensor that can be used in mammalian and bacterial cells interchangeably.<br />
<br />
<br />
Six new biobricks produced and submitted to the registry with characterisation from fluorescence-based experiments.<br />
<br />
Parts produced from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
<br />
Parts characterised from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have proved the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes.<br />
<br />
<br />
We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T17:18:24Z<p>Rkelwick: /* NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
==NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview==<br />
<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.<br />
<br />
'''Our project consists of three components, read their summaries on this page or click on the images below to see more information including our Biobrick characterisation data.''' <br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |300px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[x1]]<br />
!align="left"|[[x2]]<br />
!align="left"|[[x3]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Our hybrid promoter hopes to add to the systems already in the registry by creating a hybrid promoter that combines the bacterial promoter PyeaR and the mammalian CArG element , both of which respond to exogenous nitrogenous species. Combining the two would allow a more modular nitric oxide sensor that can be used in mammalian and bacterial cells interchangeably.<br />
<br />
<br />
Six new biobricks produced and submitted to the registry with characterisation from fluorescence-based experiments.<br />
<br />
Parts produced from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
<br />
Parts characterised from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have proved the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes.<br />
<br />
<br />
We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T17:16:51Z<p>Rkelwick: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
==NRP-UEA-Norwich Project Overview==<br />
<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.<br />
<br />
''Our project consists of three components, read their summaries on this page or click on the images below to see more information including our Biobrick characterisation data'' <br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |300px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[x1]]<br />
!align="left"|[[x2]]<br />
!align="left"|[[x3]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Our hybrid promoter hopes to add to the systems already in the registry by creating a hybrid promoter that combines the bacterial promoter PyeaR and the mammalian CArG element , both of which respond to exogenous nitrogenous species. Combining the two would allow a more modular nitric oxide sensor that can be used in mammalian and bacterial cells interchangeably.<br />
<br />
<br />
Six new biobricks produced and submitted to the registry with characterisation from fluorescence-based experiments.<br />
<br />
<br />
Parts produced from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
<br />
Parts characterised from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have proved the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes.<br />
<br />
<br />
We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T17:03:39Z<p>Rkelwick: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |300px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[x1]]<br />
!align="left"|[[x2]]<br />
!align="left"|[[x3]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
<br />
Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Our hybrid promoter hopes to add to the systems already in the registry by creating a hybrid promoter that combines the bacterial promoter PyeaR and the mammalian CArG element , both of which respond to exogenous nitrogenous species. Combining the two would allow a more modular nitric oxide sensor that can be used in mammalian and bacterial cells interchangeably.<br />
<br />
<br />
Six new biobricks produced and submitted to the registry with characterisation from fluorescence-based experiments.<br />
<br />
<br />
Parts produced from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
<br />
Parts characterised from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have proved the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes.<br />
<br />
<br />
We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T17:02:49Z<p>Rkelwick: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
{{UEANRPProjects}}<br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |300px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |300px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[x1]]<br />
!align="left"|[[x2]]<br />
!align="left"|[[x3]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
<br />
Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Our hybrid promoter hopes to add to the systems already in the registry by creating a hybrid promoter that combines the bacterial promoter PyeaR and the mammalian CArG element , both of which respond to exogenous nitrogenous species. Combining the two would allow a more modular nitric oxide sensor that can be used in mammalian and bacterial cells interchangeably.<br />
<br />
<br />
Six new biobricks produced and submitted to the registry with characterisation from fluorescence-based experiments.<br />
<br />
<br />
Parts produced from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
<br />
Parts characterised from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have proved the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes.<br />
<br />
<br />
We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T17:02:05Z<p>Rkelwick: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
{{UEANRPProjects}}<br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |250px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |250px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |250px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[x1]]<br />
!align="left"|[[x2]]<br />
!align="left"|[[x3]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
<br />
Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Our hybrid promoter hopes to add to the systems already in the registry by creating a hybrid promoter that combines the bacterial promoter PyeaR and the mammalian CArG element , both of which respond to exogenous nitrogenous species. Combining the two would allow a more modular nitric oxide sensor that can be used in mammalian and bacterial cells interchangeably.<br />
<br />
<br />
Six new biobricks produced and submitted to the registry with characterisation from fluorescence-based experiments.<br />
<br />
<br />
Parts produced from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
<br />
Parts characterised from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have proved the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes.<br />
<br />
<br />
We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T17:01:10Z<p>Rkelwick: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
{{UEANRPProjects}}<br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |200px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |200px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |200px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[x1]]<br />
!align="left"|[[x2]]<br />
!align="left"|[[x3]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
<br />
Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Our hybrid promoter hopes to add to the systems already in the registry by creating a hybrid promoter that combines the bacterial promoter PyeaR and the mammalian CArG element , both of which respond to exogenous nitrogenous species. Combining the two would allow a more modular nitric oxide sensor that can be used in mammalian and bacterial cells interchangeably.<br />
<br />
<br />
Six new biobricks produced and submitted to the registry with characterisation from fluorescence-based experiments.<br />
<br />
<br />
Parts produced from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
<br />
Parts characterised from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have proved the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes.<br />
<br />
<br />
We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T17:00:15Z<p>Rkelwick: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
{{UEANRPProjects}}<br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |200px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |200px]]<br />
!align="left"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |200px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="left"|[[x1]]<br />
!align="left"|[[x2]]<br />
!align="left"|[[x3]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
<br />
Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Our hybrid promoter hopes to add to the systems already in the registry by creating a hybrid promoter that combines the bacterial promoter PyeaR and the mammalian CArG element , both of which respond to exogenous nitrogenous species. Combining the two would allow a more modular nitric oxide sensor that can be used in mammalian and bacterial cells interchangeably.<br />
<br />
<br />
Six new biobricks produced and submitted to the registry with characterisation from fluorescence-based experiments.<br />
<br />
<br />
Parts produced from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
<br />
Parts characterised from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have proved the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes.<br />
<br />
<br />
We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T16:59:27Z<p>Rkelwick: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
{{UEANRPProjects}}<br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="center"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |200px]]<br />
!align="center"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit |200px]]<br />
!align="center"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects |200px]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="center"|[[x1]]<br />
!align="center"|[[x2]]<br />
!align="center"|[[x3]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
<br />
Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Our hybrid promoter hopes to add to the systems already in the registry by creating a hybrid promoter that combines the bacterial promoter PyeaR and the mammalian CArG element , both of which respond to exogenous nitrogenous species. Combining the two would allow a more modular nitric oxide sensor that can be used in mammalian and bacterial cells interchangeably.<br />
<br />
<br />
Six new biobricks produced and submitted to the registry with characterisation from fluorescence-based experiments.<br />
<br />
<br />
Parts produced from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
<br />
Parts characterised from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have proved the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes.<br />
<br />
<br />
We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ProjectTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Project2012-09-26T16:58:54Z<p>Rkelwick: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
{{UEANRPProjects}}<br />
<br />
{| style="color:#1b2c8a;background-#6C0;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"width="62%" align="center"<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="center"|[[File:NRPNOLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing |200px]]<br />
!align="center"|[[File:NRPCompLogo.png |link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
!align="center"|[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png|link=https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects ]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
!align="center"|[[x1]]<br />
!align="center"|[[x2]]<br />
!align="center"|[[x3]]<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
<br />
Sensory BioBrick systems have been a large constituent of previous iGEM projects in which teams have combined impressive amounts of logic with limitless creativity in order to produce synthetically engineered organisms with the ability to detect the presence of specific substrates; this was achieved by combining various promoters and reporters to produce novel gene systems of great breadth and depth.<br />
<br />
<br />
We too have taken a sensory approach to our project and have produced systems involved in the sensation of nitric oxide (NO). Originally we set out to develop a bacterial and mammalian hybrid NO-sensing promoter (which we have achieved); we then looked into ways of quantifying the levels of highly reactive and difficult to measure NO within a system, leading to us producing a novel gene regulation system known as the comparator circuit. Throughout the project we went on to look at theoretical alternative approaches to the gene systems we have produced.<br />
<br />
<br />
Overall in our project we have produced 6 sensory BioBricks, 2 BioBricks involved in gene regulation, and have further characterised 4 more BioBricks. All 8 of our BioBricks have been submitted to the registry and the 6 sensory BioBricks have been characterised.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPNOLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/NOSensing]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Our hybrid promoter hopes to add to the systems already in the registry by creating a hybrid promoter that combines the bacterial promoter PyeaR and the mammalian CArG element , both of which respond to exogenous nitrogenous species. Combining the two would allow a more modular nitric oxide sensor that can be used in mammalian and bacterial cells interchangeably.<br />
<br />
<br />
Six new biobricks produced and submitted to the registry with characterisation from fluorescence-based experiments.<br />
<br />
<br />
Parts produced from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774000 Bacterial-Mammalian/B-M (PyeaR-CArG) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774001 Mammalian-Bacterial/M-B (CArG-PyeaR) Hybrid Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 B-M + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774005 B-M + RFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774006 M-B + eCFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K774004 M-B + RFP]<br />
<br />
<br />
Parts characterised from this project:<br />
<br />
[http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 PyeaR Promoter] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K381001 PyeaR Promoter + GFP] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_E0420 enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators] -- [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K081014 Red Fluorescent Protein + RBS + Terminators]<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main project has resulted in the production of a hybrid bacterial and mammalian promoter optimised for induction by nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrites. We have ligated PyeaR, a known bacterial promoter and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K216005 Part BBa_K216005] (Cambridge 2009) in the parts registry, with its mammalian counterpart, CArG. The resulting hybrid promoter has been synthesised in two orientations; PyeaR (bacterial, B) upstream of CArG (mammalian, M), nicknamed (B-M); and CArG upstream of PyeaR (M-B). These orientations were submitted to the parts registry as our first two biobricks.<br />
<br />
<br />
Each orientation of the promoter was ligated to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (eCFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) to produce four new biobricks which have been submitted to the parts registry. These promoter + fluorescent protein biobricks have been characterised following transformation into ''Escherichia coli'' and induction by potassium nitrate using methods such as flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and scanning with a fluorometer. The data from these experiments has proved that our promoter works as we expected it to. We have also transfected M-B + eCFP into a human breast cancer cell line, MCF7, and have proved the system is flexible and can be used in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes.<br />
<br />
<br />
We believe the promoters we have produced have relevant uses in cancer therapeutics, soil fertilisation and detection of emissions from industries such as construction.<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPCompLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/ComparatorCircuit]]<br />
<br />
[[File:Comparator circuit.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' The electrical circuitary of the comparator circuit.'']]<br />
<br />
The lack of specificity of the bacterial promoter, pYEAR, used in the hybrid promoter was a pitfall that was always a concern. From this potential problem spawned a potential solution; the Comparator Circuit.This pair of BioBricks is designed to specifically bind to each other while ligated to two different promoters of overlapping specificity to result in an integrating of the conflicting outputs of the two opposing gene systems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our system relies on two constructs that interact via complimentary base pair sequences both before and after the ribosome binding site of the reporter protein. The idea being that, when both transcripts are present in the chassis, they would bind together, inhibiting the translation of the reporter proteins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any imbalance of transcription due to the presence of the substrate of interest results in free mRNA of the gene system that detects that substrate. Crucially, if both promoters detect the same substrates but differ with one extra substrate being detected by one of the promoters, it is this substrate and this substrate only that our system will be able to detect in a simple and quantitative way. <br />
<br />
<br />
Our team have constructed a countercurrent comparator circuit in which the reporter proteins are at the same end of the complimentary region, although a contracurrent system has been theorised. Both systems share a crucial subtractive nature comparable to an analogue computer. We envisage that, should the system be fine-tuned and expanded on, a variety of different business sectors from agriculture to spinoff pharmaceutical companies (<html><font size=2pt><b>Please check out our <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Quanticare">Quanticare</a> page for more details</b></font></html>) could capitalise on this novel genetic technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What we have produced is a biobrick pair that work in harmony, when ligated to promoters of interest and genes of interest, to sequester translation when both mRNA transcripts are present in the cell. The use of quantative tuners with these biobricks is encouraged to ensure that the transcription rate both gene constructs are equal when both promoters are transcribing at their optimal rate. Although the parts have been submitted to the registry and theoretically characterised, time constraints have meant that further lab-based characterisation could not occur.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we hope to utilise any free time in our timetables sduring the next semester to characterise the biobricks further (please see our project proposal), and hope that we will be given a chance to present our further findings at MIT! <br />
<br />
<br />
To conclude, what we have created is a pair of antagonistic BioBricks that turned the pair of mRNAs in which they reside into translational repressor molecules when both are transcribed in tandum within a specific chassis of interest, a new application for mRNA complimentary base pairing within the registry and a project we feel could go very far indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre | link=Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Division circuit'''<br />
<br />
The comparator circuit that we have created integrates two different transcription levels in a negative manner (subtraction) to perform a range of functions a range of different integrations (calculations) are necessary to this end we have also designed a system that would allow one signal (transcription rate) to be divided by the transcription level of another promoter. To achieve this we have used the processes of attenuation and the three loop system (in the tryp leader). the system has also been mathematically modelled. to find more please click the image above. <br />
<br />
'''Multisensor'''<br />
<br />
There are many groups of chemical species for which there are no current biological techniques for distinguishing between each of these species and quantitatively analysing its concentration. Here we outline a possible approach for solving this problem using non-specific transcription factors and promoters. We use nitrates nitrites and nitric oxide as our example group. To find more please click the image above.<br />
<br />
in addition to the two main projects, we have also worked to elaborate on some of the teams earlier ideas during the project.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjectsTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects2012-09-26T16:14:09Z<p>Rkelwick: /* Multi-Sensor System */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
{{UEANRPProjects}}<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre]]<br />
<br />
PASCOE TO DO<br />
<br />
SUMMARY OF WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE OVERALL WITH THE THEORETICAL PROJECTS; BASICALLY THAT WE'VE THOUGHT OF OTHER PROJECT IDEAS ETC.<br />
<br />
=division circuit=<br />
[[File:IGEM_attenuation_diagram_1_12.09.23.png | 250px | right | thumbnail | '''''Figure 1''''' ''<br />
Illustration of the effect of low tryptophan on a three loop system in the try for ptophan operon (Madigan, ''etal'' 2012)'']]<br />
WHAT IT IS (CONCEPT EXPLANATION), MATHS FOR IT, RUSSELL TO PRODUCE GRAPHICS, THEORETICAL LABS<br />
<br />
There are four central mathematical operations; subtraction, multiplication, addition and subtraction; the ability to do each in a cell unleashes massive potential for future applications. <br />
<br />
<br />
A multiplier effect can be produced by using a 'three looped system' that naturally causes attenuation in the tryptophan operon. The removal of the ribosome binding site up stream means the formation of the stem and loops are no longer dependent on the ribosome. Instead the team designed a synthetic gene that would produce an arm that would complimentary bind to site one in their leader causing the site three four loop to form and transcription to be attenuated. The probability of this happening is dependent on the concentration of the complimentary RNAs but also on the transcription initiation rate all the promoter creating a multiplier effect (where the rate of transcription initiation in the promoter is multiplied by a number between nought and one)<br />
<br />
'''Theoretical planned lab work'''<br />
<br />
<br />
The team, should this idea have been taken further, would have sent for synthesis of the leader we have designed. And this synthetic gene would be ligated to well characterised promoters whose transcription is dependent on different ligands, for instance the hybrid (insert biobrick code name) and Pbad promoter (BBa_I0500). <br />
Ligate a fluorescent protein to the three prime end of the three loop system leader. <br />
Ligate the two fusions together to make a single insert transform E. coli with the plasmid. <br />
Grow up the cells in a range of concentrations of nitrate and a range of concentrations of arabinose as well as a number of different ratios. For instance colonies grown up in 0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% arabinose as well as 0mM KNO3, 5 mM KNO3, 10 mM KNO3 and 15 mM KNO3 as in the table below. <br />
<br />
[[File:IGEM_multiplicative_write_up_table_1_12.09.23.png | 300px | centre | thumbnail | '''''table 2''''' ''data that would indicate the degree of knockdown '']]<br />
<br />
This would indicate the degree of transcriptional repression caused by the expression of the complimentary RNA it would also confirm the relationship between concentration of RNA complement, transcription initiation rate of promoter attached to the three loop system and and the rate of fall RNA transcript synthesis of the gene by observing harassments caused by fluorescent protein translated from RNA<br />
<br />
[[File:IGEM_division_equation_1_12.09.24.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' Nth term equation for the proportion of transcription of the three loop system RNA that is attenuated by the expression of the complimentary RNA.'']]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''mathmatical modelling'''<br />
<br />
<br />
This equation is in the nth term where each increment is increased conce<br />
Pn = proportion of transcripts that are bound by the complement RNA and attenuated at that level of transcription of the complementary <br />
Pn-1 = at one increment less transcription of R <br />
T = the binding half-life; the mean period for which the two RNAs are annealed. <br />
R = the rate of transcription initiation of the section of RNA complementary to sight 1 <br />
G = the volume of the cell <br />
S = the speed of RNA complement movement in the cell (temperature dependent) <br />
<br />
<br />
=Multi-Sensor System=<br />
[[File:IGEM_multi_sensor_diagram_1_12.09.23.png | 300px | right | thumbnail | '''''Figure 4''''' ''Range of potential concentration ratios indicated by a particular transcription level (arbitrary) of two different promoters (1,2).'']]<br />
Any problems encountered again and again by synthetic biologists is that specific promoters do not exist for a particular ligand and it is very difficult to construct a transcription factor that is specific to the ligand required. There are however often broad spectrum (non-specific ) promoters that can be found for a particular ligand these promoters and their transcription factors will induce transcription initiation when exposed to (or not exposed to) this ligand but also when exposed to other similar ligands. Assuming competitive binding there is an interesting effect which can be exploited to give specific and accurate concentrations of each of the ligands which will bind to and that transcription factor. In its simplest form if there are two different transcription factors each of which will cause transcription when exposed to either or both of two different competitive ligands with different lead constructive active sites and then there will be a different bias in each active site to each ligand meaning any particular transcription rate in one of the promoters indicates any of a continuous range of ratios between the two different ligands (for example nitrates and nitrites) as seen on line 1 (figure 1). Because the two different construction factors have different binding efficiencies to the two different ligands the line of the other promoter will take a different angle (line 2) the point when these two lines cross gives the concentration of both ligands specifically even though the two different promoters are non-specific.<br />
<br />
[[File:Two_planes_.png | 350px | right | thumbnail | '''''Figure 5''''' '' (1,2). blah blah'']]<br />
<br />
this effect can be modelled on more than just two substrates. Visually the system can be modelled with each concentration being a different access on a graph (which can soon become hyper dimensional) when you add a third ligand it can soon be seen that the two lines on figure 1 become two planes which intersect along one line (fig 2 ). this means that a third promoter and transcription factor are necessary (the same way that two pinpoint any single point in three-dimensional space it must be triangulated from three other points). Once the third promoter and transcription factor is added the three planes created intersect at a single point which gives the specific concentration of each of the ligands( fig 3 ) . When four ligands are used a hyper dimensional graph of four spatial dimensions with four different plains each pertaining to a single promoter and transcription factor will all intersect at a single point giving the specific concentration of each of the four ligands (and so on and so on). <br />
<br />
''' functional construction'''<br />
<br />
<br />
there are a number of different ways of putting this theory into practice, either each of the different promoters selected can be fused to a fluorescent protein and cloned into different cells along with a constitutively expressed fluorescent protein (to control for metabolic and cell mass differences) and a homogenised sample split between each of the culture media containing fluorescent protein with a different promoters and the expression of each fluorescent protein measured using florimeter and mathematically analysed (see below) to give the exact concentrations of each of the ligands or all of the promoter - fluorescent protein fusions can be ligate it into one insert and transformed into a single cell (at this point the constitutively synthesised fluorescent protein is no longer necessary because comparison is made between expressions of different proteins within the same cell). This system has advantages and disadvantages. Because each cell has the full range of promoters necessary each cell can give a reading for the chemical concentrations in its direct vicinity meaning each cell can become a single “ pixel” which can make up a image of chemical concentrations throughout a sample. This would be useful in environments where diffusion rate is low and chemical concentrations vary e.g. soil. Exact concentrations could be calculated using laser microscopy but a simple photograph would yield much information about the system. <br />
Future lab work<br />
each promoter selected (in our case we have decided to work with small nitrogen species) must be characterised under different levels of and ratios of each of the ligands it will be measuring the concentration of. This data can then be used to analyse readings . <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
WHAT IT IS (CONCEPT EXPLANATION), MATHS FOR IT, RUSSELL TO PRODUCE GRAPHICS, THEORETICAL LABS, GRAPH?<br />
Russell seeings as I'm on it I will put in much graphics I can and have a look at the theoretical labs (Pascoe)<br />
ps there are two three-dimensional grafts to go in as well<br />
<br />
Madigan, M T. Martinko, J M. Stahl, D A. clark (2012). Brock biology of microorganisms . 13th ed. London: Pearson. 232.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjectsTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects2012-09-26T16:13:01Z<p>Rkelwick: /* Multi-Sensor System */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
{{UEANRPProjects}}<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre]]<br />
<br />
PASCOE TO DO<br />
<br />
SUMMARY OF WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE OVERALL WITH THE THEORETICAL PROJECTS; BASICALLY THAT WE'VE THOUGHT OF OTHER PROJECT IDEAS ETC.<br />
<br />
=division circuit=<br />
[[File:IGEM_attenuation_diagram_1_12.09.23.png | 250px | right | thumbnail | '''''Figure 1''''' ''<br />
Illustration of the effect of low tryptophan on a three loop system in the try for ptophan operon (Madigan, ''etal'' 2012)'']]<br />
WHAT IT IS (CONCEPT EXPLANATION), MATHS FOR IT, RUSSELL TO PRODUCE GRAPHICS, THEORETICAL LABS<br />
<br />
There are four central mathematical operations; subtraction, multiplication, addition and subtraction; the ability to do each in a cell unleashes massive potential for future applications. <br />
<br />
<br />
A multiplier effect can be produced by using a 'three looped system' that naturally causes attenuation in the tryptophan operon. The removal of the ribosome binding site up stream means the formation of the stem and loops are no longer dependent on the ribosome. Instead the team designed a synthetic gene that would produce an arm that would complimentary bind to site one in their leader causing the site three four loop to form and transcription to be attenuated. The probability of this happening is dependent on the concentration of the complimentary RNAs but also on the transcription initiation rate all the promoter creating a multiplier effect (where the rate of transcription initiation in the promoter is multiplied by a number between nought and one)<br />
<br />
'''Theoretical planned lab work'''<br />
<br />
<br />
The team, should this idea have been taken further, would have sent for synthesis of the leader we have designed. And this synthetic gene would be ligated to well characterised promoters whose transcription is dependent on different ligands, for instance the hybrid (insert biobrick code name) and Pbad promoter (BBa_I0500). <br />
Ligate a fluorescent protein to the three prime end of the three loop system leader. <br />
Ligate the two fusions together to make a single insert transform E. coli with the plasmid. <br />
Grow up the cells in a range of concentrations of nitrate and a range of concentrations of arabinose as well as a number of different ratios. For instance colonies grown up in 0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% arabinose as well as 0mM KNO3, 5 mM KNO3, 10 mM KNO3 and 15 mM KNO3 as in the table below. <br />
<br />
[[File:IGEM_multiplicative_write_up_table_1_12.09.23.png | 300px | centre | thumbnail | '''''table 2''''' ''data that would indicate the degree of knockdown '']]<br />
<br />
This would indicate the degree of transcriptional repression caused by the expression of the complimentary RNA it would also confirm the relationship between concentration of RNA complement, transcription initiation rate of promoter attached to the three loop system and and the rate of fall RNA transcript synthesis of the gene by observing harassments caused by fluorescent protein translated from RNA<br />
<br />
[[File:IGEM_division_equation_1_12.09.24.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' Nth term equation for the proportion of transcription of the three loop system RNA that is attenuated by the expression of the complimentary RNA.'']]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''mathmatical modelling'''<br />
<br />
<br />
This equation is in the nth term where each increment is increased conce<br />
Pn = proportion of transcripts that are bound by the complement RNA and attenuated at that level of transcription of the complementary <br />
Pn-1 = at one increment less transcription of R <br />
T = the binding half-life; the mean period for which the two RNAs are annealed. <br />
R = the rate of transcription initiation of the section of RNA complementary to sight 1 <br />
G = the volume of the cell <br />
S = the speed of RNA complement movement in the cell (temperature dependent) <br />
<br />
<br />
=Multi-Sensor System=<br />
[[File:IGEM_multi_sensor_diagram_1_12.09.23.png | 300px | right | thumbnail | '''''Figure 4''''' ''Range of potential concentration ratios indicated by a particular transcription level (arbitrary) of two different promoters (1,2).'']]<br />
Any problems encountered again and again by synthetic biologists is that specific promoters do not exist for a particular ligand and it is very difficult to construct a transcription factor that is specific to the ligand required. There are however often broad spectrum (non-specific ) promoters that can be found for a particular ligand these promoters and their transcription factors will induce transcription initiation when exposed to (or not exposed to) this ligand but also when exposed to other similar ligands. Assuming competitive binding there is an interesting effect which can be exploited to give specific and accurate concentrations of each of the ligands which will bind to and that transcription factor. In its simplest form if there are two different transcription factors each of which will cause transcription when exposed to either or both of two different competitive ligands with different lead constructive active sites and then there will be a different bias in each active site to each ligand meaning any particular transcription rate in one of the promoters indicates any of a continuous range of ratios between the two different ligands (for example nitrates and nitrites) as seen on line 1 (figure 1). Because the two different construction factors have different binding efficiencies to the two different ligands the line of the other promoter will take a different angle (line 2) the point when these two lines cross gives the concentration of both ligands specifically even though the two different promoters are non-specific.<br />
<br />
<br><br />
[[File:Two_planes_.png | 300px | right | thumbnail | '''''Figure 5''''' '' (1,2). blah blah'']]<br />
<br><br />
<br />
<br />
this effect can be modelled on more than just two substrates. Visually the system can be modelled with each concentration being a different access on a graph (which can soon become hyper dimensional) when you add a third ligand it can soon be seen that the two lines on figure 1 become two planes which intersect along one line (fig 2 ). this means that a third promoter and transcription factor are necessary (the same way that two pinpoint any single point in three-dimensional space it must be triangulated from three other points). Once the third promoter and transcription factor is added the three planes created intersect at a single point which gives the specific concentration of each of the ligands( fig 3 ) . When four ligands are used a hyper dimensional graph of four spatial dimensions with four different plains each pertaining to a single promoter and transcription factor will all intersect at a single point giving the specific concentration of each of the four ligands (and so on and so on). <br />
<br />
''' functional construction'''<br />
<br />
<br />
there are a number of different ways of putting this theory into practice, either each of the different promoters selected can be fused to a fluorescent protein and cloned into different cells along with a constitutively expressed fluorescent protein (to control for metabolic and cell mass differences) and a homogenised sample split between each of the culture media containing fluorescent protein with a different promoters and the expression of each fluorescent protein measured using florimeter and mathematically analysed (see below) to give the exact concentrations of each of the ligands or all of the promoter - fluorescent protein fusions can be ligate it into one insert and transformed into a single cell (at this point the constitutively synthesised fluorescent protein is no longer necessary because comparison is made between expressions of different proteins within the same cell). This system has advantages and disadvantages. Because each cell has the full range of promoters necessary each cell can give a reading for the chemical concentrations in its direct vicinity meaning each cell can become a single “ pixel” which can make up a image of chemical concentrations throughout a sample. This would be useful in environments where diffusion rate is low and chemical concentrations vary e.g. soil. Exact concentrations could be calculated using laser microscopy but a simple photograph would yield much information about the system. <br />
Future lab work<br />
each promoter selected (in our case we have decided to work with small nitrogen species) must be characterised under different levels of and ratios of each of the ligands it will be measuring the concentration of. This data can then be used to analyse readings . <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
WHAT IT IS (CONCEPT EXPLANATION), MATHS FOR IT, RUSSELL TO PRODUCE GRAPHICS, THEORETICAL LABS, GRAPH?<br />
Russell seeings as I'm on it I will put in much graphics I can and have a look at the theoretical labs (Pascoe)<br />
ps there are two three-dimensional grafts to go in as well<br />
<br />
Madigan, M T. Martinko, J M. Stahl, D A. clark (2012). Brock biology of microorganisms . 13th ed. London: Pearson. 232.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjectsTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects2012-09-26T16:12:24Z<p>Rkelwick: /* Multi-Sensor System */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
{{UEANRPProjects}}<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre]]<br />
<br />
PASCOE TO DO<br />
<br />
SUMMARY OF WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE OVERALL WITH THE THEORETICAL PROJECTS; BASICALLY THAT WE'VE THOUGHT OF OTHER PROJECT IDEAS ETC.<br />
<br />
=division circuit=<br />
[[File:IGEM_attenuation_diagram_1_12.09.23.png | 250px | right | thumbnail | '''''Figure 1''''' ''<br />
Illustration of the effect of low tryptophan on a three loop system in the try for ptophan operon (Madigan, ''etal'' 2012)'']]<br />
WHAT IT IS (CONCEPT EXPLANATION), MATHS FOR IT, RUSSELL TO PRODUCE GRAPHICS, THEORETICAL LABS<br />
<br />
There are four central mathematical operations; subtraction, multiplication, addition and subtraction; the ability to do each in a cell unleashes massive potential for future applications. <br />
<br />
<br />
A multiplier effect can be produced by using a 'three looped system' that naturally causes attenuation in the tryptophan operon. The removal of the ribosome binding site up stream means the formation of the stem and loops are no longer dependent on the ribosome. Instead the team designed a synthetic gene that would produce an arm that would complimentary bind to site one in their leader causing the site three four loop to form and transcription to be attenuated. The probability of this happening is dependent on the concentration of the complimentary RNAs but also on the transcription initiation rate all the promoter creating a multiplier effect (where the rate of transcription initiation in the promoter is multiplied by a number between nought and one)<br />
<br />
'''Theoretical planned lab work'''<br />
<br />
<br />
The team, should this idea have been taken further, would have sent for synthesis of the leader we have designed. And this synthetic gene would be ligated to well characterised promoters whose transcription is dependent on different ligands, for instance the hybrid (insert biobrick code name) and Pbad promoter (BBa_I0500). <br />
Ligate a fluorescent protein to the three prime end of the three loop system leader. <br />
Ligate the two fusions together to make a single insert transform E. coli with the plasmid. <br />
Grow up the cells in a range of concentrations of nitrate and a range of concentrations of arabinose as well as a number of different ratios. For instance colonies grown up in 0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% arabinose as well as 0mM KNO3, 5 mM KNO3, 10 mM KNO3 and 15 mM KNO3 as in the table below. <br />
<br />
[[File:IGEM_multiplicative_write_up_table_1_12.09.23.png | 300px | centre | thumbnail | '''''table 2''''' ''data that would indicate the degree of knockdown '']]<br />
<br />
This would indicate the degree of transcriptional repression caused by the expression of the complimentary RNA it would also confirm the relationship between concentration of RNA complement, transcription initiation rate of promoter attached to the three loop system and and the rate of fall RNA transcript synthesis of the gene by observing harassments caused by fluorescent protein translated from RNA<br />
<br />
[[File:IGEM_division_equation_1_12.09.24.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' Nth term equation for the proportion of transcription of the three loop system RNA that is attenuated by the expression of the complimentary RNA.'']]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''mathmatical modelling'''<br />
<br />
<br />
This equation is in the nth term where each increment is increased conce<br />
Pn = proportion of transcripts that are bound by the complement RNA and attenuated at that level of transcription of the complementary <br />
Pn-1 = at one increment less transcription of R <br />
T = the binding half-life; the mean period for which the two RNAs are annealed. <br />
R = the rate of transcription initiation of the section of RNA complementary to sight 1 <br />
G = the volume of the cell <br />
S = the speed of RNA complement movement in the cell (temperature dependent) <br />
<br />
<br />
=Multi-Sensor System=<br />
[[File:IGEM_multi_sensor_diagram_1_12.09.23.png | 300px | right | thumbnail | '''''Figure 4''''' ''Range of potential concentration ratios indicated by a particular transcription level (arbitrary) of two different promoters (1,2).'']]<br />
Any problems encountered again and again by synthetic biologists is that specific promoters do not exist for a particular ligand and it is very difficult to construct a transcription factor that is specific to the ligand required. There are however often broad spectrum (non-specific ) promoters that can be found for a particular ligand these promoters and their transcription factors will induce transcription initiation when exposed to (or not exposed to) this ligand but also when exposed to other similar ligands. Assuming competitive binding there is an interesting effect which can be exploited to give specific and accurate concentrations of each of the ligands which will bind to and that transcription factor. In its simplest form if there are two different transcription factors each of which will cause transcription when exposed to either or both of two different competitive ligands with different lead constructive active sites and then there will be a different bias in each active site to each ligand meaning any particular transcription rate in one of the promoters indicates any of a continuous range of ratios between the two different ligands (for example nitrates and nitrites) as seen on line 1 (figure 1). Because the two different construction factors have different binding efficiencies to the two different ligands the line of the other promoter will take a different angle (line 2) the point when these two lines cross gives the concentration of both ligands specifically even though the two different promoters are non-specific.<br />
<br />
<br><br />
[[File:Two_planes_.png | 300px | center | | '''''Figure 5''''' '' (1,2).'']]<br />
<br><br />
<br />
<br />
this effect can be modelled on more than just two substrates. Visually the system can be modelled with each concentration being a different access on a graph (which can soon become hyper dimensional) when you add a third ligand it can soon be seen that the two lines on figure 1 become two planes which intersect along one line (fig 2 ). this means that a third promoter and transcription factor are necessary (the same way that two pinpoint any single point in three-dimensional space it must be triangulated from three other points). Once the third promoter and transcription factor is added the three planes created intersect at a single point which gives the specific concentration of each of the ligands( fig 3 ) . When four ligands are used a hyper dimensional graph of four spatial dimensions with four different plains each pertaining to a single promoter and transcription factor will all intersect at a single point giving the specific concentration of each of the four ligands (and so on and so on). <br />
<br />
''' functional construction'''<br />
<br />
<br />
there are a number of different ways of putting this theory into practice, either each of the different promoters selected can be fused to a fluorescent protein and cloned into different cells along with a constitutively expressed fluorescent protein (to control for metabolic and cell mass differences) and a homogenised sample split between each of the culture media containing fluorescent protein with a different promoters and the expression of each fluorescent protein measured using florimeter and mathematically analysed (see below) to give the exact concentrations of each of the ligands or all of the promoter - fluorescent protein fusions can be ligate it into one insert and transformed into a single cell (at this point the constitutively synthesised fluorescent protein is no longer necessary because comparison is made between expressions of different proteins within the same cell). This system has advantages and disadvantages. Because each cell has the full range of promoters necessary each cell can give a reading for the chemical concentrations in its direct vicinity meaning each cell can become a single “ pixel” which can make up a image of chemical concentrations throughout a sample. This would be useful in environments where diffusion rate is low and chemical concentrations vary e.g. soil. Exact concentrations could be calculated using laser microscopy but a simple photograph would yield much information about the system. <br />
Future lab work<br />
each promoter selected (in our case we have decided to work with small nitrogen species) must be characterised under different levels of and ratios of each of the ligands it will be measuring the concentration of. This data can then be used to analyse readings . <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
WHAT IT IS (CONCEPT EXPLANATION), MATHS FOR IT, RUSSELL TO PRODUCE GRAPHICS, THEORETICAL LABS, GRAPH?<br />
Russell seeings as I'm on it I will put in much graphics I can and have a look at the theoretical labs (Pascoe)<br />
ps there are two three-dimensional grafts to go in as well<br />
<br />
Madigan, M T. Martinko, J M. Stahl, D A. clark (2012). Brock biology of microorganisms . 13th ed. London: Pearson. 232.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjectsTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects2012-09-26T16:06:44Z<p>Rkelwick: /* Multi-Sensor System */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
{{UEANRPProjects}}<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre]]<br />
<br />
PASCOE TO DO<br />
<br />
SUMMARY OF WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE OVERALL WITH THE THEORETICAL PROJECTS; BASICALLY THAT WE'VE THOUGHT OF OTHER PROJECT IDEAS ETC.<br />
<br />
=division circuit=<br />
[[File:IGEM_attenuation_diagram_1_12.09.23.png | 250px | right | thumbnail | '''''Figure 1''''' ''<br />
Illustration of the effect of low tryptophan on a three loop system in the try for ptophan operon (Madigan, ''etal'' 2012)'']]<br />
WHAT IT IS (CONCEPT EXPLANATION), MATHS FOR IT, RUSSELL TO PRODUCE GRAPHICS, THEORETICAL LABS<br />
<br />
There are four central mathematical operations; subtraction, multiplication, addition and subtraction; the ability to do each in a cell unleashes massive potential for future applications. <br />
<br />
<br />
A multiplier effect can be produced by using a 'three looped system' that naturally causes attenuation in the tryptophan operon. The removal of the ribosome binding site up stream means the formation of the stem and loops are no longer dependent on the ribosome. Instead the team designed a synthetic gene that would produce an arm that would complimentary bind to site one in their leader causing the site three four loop to form and transcription to be attenuated. The probability of this happening is dependent on the concentration of the complimentary RNAs but also on the transcription initiation rate all the promoter creating a multiplier effect (where the rate of transcription initiation in the promoter is multiplied by a number between nought and one)<br />
<br />
'''Theoretical planned lab work'''<br />
<br />
<br />
The team, should this idea have been taken further, would have sent for synthesis of the leader we have designed. And this synthetic gene would be ligated to well characterised promoters whose transcription is dependent on different ligands, for instance the hybrid (insert biobrick code name) and Pbad promoter (BBa_I0500). <br />
Ligate a fluorescent protein to the three prime end of the three loop system leader. <br />
Ligate the two fusions together to make a single insert transform E. coli with the plasmid. <br />
Grow up the cells in a range of concentrations of nitrate and a range of concentrations of arabinose as well as a number of different ratios. For instance colonies grown up in 0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% arabinose as well as 0mM KNO3, 5 mM KNO3, 10 mM KNO3 and 15 mM KNO3 as in the table below. <br />
<br />
[[File:IGEM_multiplicative_write_up_table_1_12.09.23.png | 300px | centre | thumbnail | '''''table 2''''' ''data that would indicate the degree of knockdown '']]<br />
<br />
This would indicate the degree of transcriptional repression caused by the expression of the complimentary RNA it would also confirm the relationship between concentration of RNA complement, transcription initiation rate of promoter attached to the three loop system and and the rate of fall RNA transcript synthesis of the gene by observing harassments caused by fluorescent protein translated from RNA<br />
<br />
[[File:IGEM_division_equation_1_12.09.24.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' Nth term equation for the proportion of transcription of the three loop system RNA that is attenuated by the expression of the complimentary RNA.'']]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''mathmatical modelling'''<br />
<br />
<br />
This equation is in the nth term where each increment is increased conce<br />
Pn = proportion of transcripts that are bound by the complement RNA and attenuated at that level of transcription of the complementary <br />
Pn-1 = at one increment less transcription of R <br />
T = the binding half-life; the mean period for which the two RNAs are annealed. <br />
R = the rate of transcription initiation of the section of RNA complementary to sight 1 <br />
G = the volume of the cell <br />
S = the speed of RNA complement movement in the cell (temperature dependent) <br />
<br />
<br />
=Multi-Sensor System=<br />
[[File:IGEM_multi_sensor_diagram_1_12.09.23.png | 300px | right | thumbnail | '''''Figure 4''''' ''Range of potential concentration ratios indicated by a particular transcription level (arbitrary) of two different promoters (1,2).'']]<br />
Any problems encountered again and again by synthetic biologists is that specific promoters do not exist for a particular ligand and it is very difficult to construct a transcription factor that is specific to the ligand required. There are however often broad spectrum (non-specific ) promoters that can be found for a particular ligand these promoters and their transcription factors will induce transcription initiation when exposed to (or not exposed to) this ligand but also when exposed to other similar ligands. Assuming competitive binding there is an interesting effect which can be exploited to give specific and accurate concentrations of each of the ligands which will bind to and that transcription factor. In its simplest form if there are two different transcription factors each of which will cause transcription when exposed to either or both of two different competitive ligands with different lead constructive active sites and then there will be a different bias in each active site to each ligand meaning any particular transcription rate in one of the promoters indicates any of a continuous range of ratios between the two different ligands (for example nitrates and nitrites) as seen on line 1 (figure 1). Because the two different construction factors have different binding efficiencies to the two different ligands the line of the other promoter will take a different angle (line 2) the point when these two lines cross gives the concentration of both ligands specifically even though the two different promoters are non-specific.<br />
<br />
<br><br />
[[File:Two_planes_and_intersection_cropped_1_12.09.25.png | 300px | center | | '''''Figure 5''''' '' (1,2).'']]<br />
<br><br />
<br />
<br />
this effect can be modelled on more than just two substrates. Visually the system can be modelled with each concentration being a different access on a graph (which can soon become hyper dimensional) when you add a third ligand it can soon be seen that the two lines on figure 1 become two planes which intersect along one line (fig 2 ). this means that a third promoter and transcription factor are necessary (the same way that two pinpoint any single point in three-dimensional space it must be triangulated from three other points). Once the third promoter and transcription factor is added the three planes created intersect at a single point which gives the specific concentration of each of the ligands( fig 3 ) . When four ligands are used a hyper dimensional graph of four spatial dimensions with four different plains each pertaining to a single promoter and transcription factor will all intersect at a single point giving the specific concentration of each of the four ligands (and so on and so on). <br />
<br />
''' functional construction'''<br />
<br />
<br />
there are a number of different ways of putting this theory into practice, either each of the different promoters selected can be fused to a fluorescent protein and cloned into different cells along with a constitutively expressed fluorescent protein (to control for metabolic and cell mass differences) and a homogenised sample split between each of the culture media containing fluorescent protein with a different promoters and the expression of each fluorescent protein measured using florimeter and mathematically analysed (see below) to give the exact concentrations of each of the ligands or all of the promoter - fluorescent protein fusions can be ligate it into one insert and transformed into a single cell (at this point the constitutively synthesised fluorescent protein is no longer necessary because comparison is made between expressions of different proteins within the same cell). This system has advantages and disadvantages. Because each cell has the full range of promoters necessary each cell can give a reading for the chemical concentrations in its direct vicinity meaning each cell can become a single “ pixel” which can make up a image of chemical concentrations throughout a sample. This would be useful in environments where diffusion rate is low and chemical concentrations vary e.g. soil. Exact concentrations could be calculated using laser microscopy but a simple photograph would yield much information about the system. <br />
Future lab work<br />
each promoter selected (in our case we have decided to work with small nitrogen species) must be characterised under different levels of and ratios of each of the ligands it will be measuring the concentration of. This data can then be used to analyse readings . <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
WHAT IT IS (CONCEPT EXPLANATION), MATHS FOR IT, RUSSELL TO PRODUCE GRAPHICS, THEORETICAL LABS, GRAPH?<br />
Russell seeings as I'm on it I will put in much graphics I can and have a look at the theoretical labs (Pascoe)<br />
ps there are two three-dimensional grafts to go in as well<br />
<br />
Madigan, M T. Martinko, J M. Stahl, D A. clark (2012). Brock biology of microorganisms . 13th ed. London: Pearson. 232.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjectsTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects2012-09-26T16:05:53Z<p>Rkelwick: /* Multi-Sensor System */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
{{UEANRPProjects}}<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre]]<br />
<br />
PASCOE TO DO<br />
<br />
SUMMARY OF WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE OVERALL WITH THE THEORETICAL PROJECTS; BASICALLY THAT WE'VE THOUGHT OF OTHER PROJECT IDEAS ETC.<br />
<br />
=division circuit=<br />
[[File:IGEM_attenuation_diagram_1_12.09.23.png | 250px | right | thumbnail | '''''Figure 1''''' ''<br />
Illustration of the effect of low tryptophan on a three loop system in the try for ptophan operon (Madigan, ''etal'' 2012)'']]<br />
WHAT IT IS (CONCEPT EXPLANATION), MATHS FOR IT, RUSSELL TO PRODUCE GRAPHICS, THEORETICAL LABS<br />
<br />
There are four central mathematical operations; subtraction, multiplication, addition and subtraction; the ability to do each in a cell unleashes massive potential for future applications. <br />
<br />
<br />
A multiplier effect can be produced by using a 'three looped system' that naturally causes attenuation in the tryptophan operon. The removal of the ribosome binding site up stream means the formation of the stem and loops are no longer dependent on the ribosome. Instead the team designed a synthetic gene that would produce an arm that would complimentary bind to site one in their leader causing the site three four loop to form and transcription to be attenuated. The probability of this happening is dependent on the concentration of the complimentary RNAs but also on the transcription initiation rate all the promoter creating a multiplier effect (where the rate of transcription initiation in the promoter is multiplied by a number between nought and one)<br />
<br />
'''Theoretical planned lab work'''<br />
<br />
<br />
The team, should this idea have been taken further, would have sent for synthesis of the leader we have designed. And this synthetic gene would be ligated to well characterised promoters whose transcription is dependent on different ligands, for instance the hybrid (insert biobrick code name) and Pbad promoter (BBa_I0500). <br />
Ligate a fluorescent protein to the three prime end of the three loop system leader. <br />
Ligate the two fusions together to make a single insert transform E. coli with the plasmid. <br />
Grow up the cells in a range of concentrations of nitrate and a range of concentrations of arabinose as well as a number of different ratios. For instance colonies grown up in 0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% arabinose as well as 0mM KNO3, 5 mM KNO3, 10 mM KNO3 and 15 mM KNO3 as in the table below. <br />
<br />
[[File:IGEM_multiplicative_write_up_table_1_12.09.23.png | 300px | centre | thumbnail | '''''table 2''''' ''data that would indicate the degree of knockdown '']]<br />
<br />
This would indicate the degree of transcriptional repression caused by the expression of the complimentary RNA it would also confirm the relationship between concentration of RNA complement, transcription initiation rate of promoter attached to the three loop system and and the rate of fall RNA transcript synthesis of the gene by observing harassments caused by fluorescent protein translated from RNA<br />
<br />
[[File:IGEM_division_equation_1_12.09.24.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' Nth term equation for the proportion of transcription of the three loop system RNA that is attenuated by the expression of the complimentary RNA.'']]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''mathmatical modelling'''<br />
<br />
<br />
This equation is in the nth term where each increment is increased conce<br />
Pn = proportion of transcripts that are bound by the complement RNA and attenuated at that level of transcription of the complementary <br />
Pn-1 = at one increment less transcription of R <br />
T = the binding half-life; the mean period for which the two RNAs are annealed. <br />
R = the rate of transcription initiation of the section of RNA complementary to sight 1 <br />
G = the volume of the cell <br />
S = the speed of RNA complement movement in the cell (temperature dependent) <br />
<br />
<br />
=Multi-Sensor System=<br />
[[File:IGEM_multi_sensor_diagram_1_12.09.23.png | 300px | right | thumbnail | '''''Figure 4''''' ''Range of potential concentration ratios indicated by a particular transcription level (arbitrary) of two different promoters (1,2).'']]<br />
Any problems encountered again and again by synthetic biologists is that specific promoters do not exist for a particular ligand and it is very difficult to construct a transcription factor that is specific to the ligand required. There are however often broad spectrum (non-specific ) promoters that can be found for a particular ligand these promoters and their transcription factors will induce transcription initiation when exposed to (or not exposed to) this ligand but also when exposed to other similar ligands. Assuming competitive binding there is an interesting effect which can be exploited to give specific and accurate concentrations of each of the ligands which will bind to and that transcription factor. In its simplest form if there are two different transcription factors each of which will cause transcription when exposed to either or both of two different competitive ligands with different lead constructive active sites and then there will be a different bias in each active site to each ligand meaning any particular transcription rate in one of the promoters indicates any of a continuous range of ratios between the two different ligands (for example nitrates and nitrites) as seen on line 1 (figure 1). Because the two different construction factors have different binding efficiencies to the two different ligands the line of the other promoter will take a different angle (line 2) the point when these two lines cross gives the concentration of both ligands specifically even though the two different promoters are non-specific.<br />
<br />
<br><br />
[[File:igem.org/wiki/images/1/16/Two_planes_and_intersection_cropped_1_12.09.25.png | 300px | right | thumbnail | '''''Figure 5''''' '' (1,2).'']]<br />
<br><br />
<br />
<br />
this effect can be modelled on more than just two substrates. Visually the system can be modelled with each concentration being a different access on a graph (which can soon become hyper dimensional) when you add a third ligand it can soon be seen that the two lines on figure 1 become two planes which intersect along one line (fig 2 ). this means that a third promoter and transcription factor are necessary (the same way that two pinpoint any single point in three-dimensional space it must be triangulated from three other points). Once the third promoter and transcription factor is added the three planes created intersect at a single point which gives the specific concentration of each of the ligands( fig 3 ) . When four ligands are used a hyper dimensional graph of four spatial dimensions with four different plains each pertaining to a single promoter and transcription factor will all intersect at a single point giving the specific concentration of each of the four ligands (and so on and so on). <br />
<br />
''' functional construction'''<br />
<br />
<br />
there are a number of different ways of putting this theory into practice, either each of the different promoters selected can be fused to a fluorescent protein and cloned into different cells along with a constitutively expressed fluorescent protein (to control for metabolic and cell mass differences) and a homogenised sample split between each of the culture media containing fluorescent protein with a different promoters and the expression of each fluorescent protein measured using florimeter and mathematically analysed (see below) to give the exact concentrations of each of the ligands or all of the promoter - fluorescent protein fusions can be ligate it into one insert and transformed into a single cell (at this point the constitutively synthesised fluorescent protein is no longer necessary because comparison is made between expressions of different proteins within the same cell). This system has advantages and disadvantages. Because each cell has the full range of promoters necessary each cell can give a reading for the chemical concentrations in its direct vicinity meaning each cell can become a single “ pixel” which can make up a image of chemical concentrations throughout a sample. This would be useful in environments where diffusion rate is low and chemical concentrations vary e.g. soil. Exact concentrations could be calculated using laser microscopy but a simple photograph would yield much information about the system. <br />
Future lab work<br />
each promoter selected (in our case we have decided to work with small nitrogen species) must be characterised under different levels of and ratios of each of the ligands it will be measuring the concentration of. This data can then be used to analyse readings . <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
WHAT IT IS (CONCEPT EXPLANATION), MATHS FOR IT, RUSSELL TO PRODUCE GRAPHICS, THEORETICAL LABS, GRAPH?<br />
Russell seeings as I'm on it I will put in much graphics I can and have a look at the theoretical labs (Pascoe)<br />
ps there are two three-dimensional grafts to go in as well<br />
<br />
Madigan, M T. Martinko, J M. Stahl, D A. clark (2012). Brock biology of microorganisms . 13th ed. London: Pearson. 232.</div>Rkelwickhttp://2012.igem.org/Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjectsTeam:NRP-UEA-Norwich/TheoreticalProjects2012-09-26T16:04:06Z<p>Rkelwick: /* Multi-Sensor System */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{UEANRP}}<br />
<br />
{{UEANRPProjects}}<br />
<br />
[[File:NRPTheoreticalLogo.png | centre]]<br />
<br />
PASCOE TO DO<br />
<br />
SUMMARY OF WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE OVERALL WITH THE THEORETICAL PROJECTS; BASICALLY THAT WE'VE THOUGHT OF OTHER PROJECT IDEAS ETC.<br />
<br />
=division circuit=<br />
[[File:IGEM_attenuation_diagram_1_12.09.23.png | 250px | right | thumbnail | '''''Figure 1''''' ''<br />
Illustration of the effect of low tryptophan on a three loop system in the try for ptophan operon (Madigan, ''etal'' 2012)'']]<br />
WHAT IT IS (CONCEPT EXPLANATION), MATHS FOR IT, RUSSELL TO PRODUCE GRAPHICS, THEORETICAL LABS<br />
<br />
There are four central mathematical operations; subtraction, multiplication, addition and subtraction; the ability to do each in a cell unleashes massive potential for future applications. <br />
<br />
<br />
A multiplier effect can be produced by using a 'three looped system' that naturally causes attenuation in the tryptophan operon. The removal of the ribosome binding site up stream means the formation of the stem and loops are no longer dependent on the ribosome. Instead the team designed a synthetic gene that would produce an arm that would complimentary bind to site one in their leader causing the site three four loop to form and transcription to be attenuated. The probability of this happening is dependent on the concentration of the complimentary RNAs but also on the transcription initiation rate all the promoter creating a multiplier effect (where the rate of transcription initiation in the promoter is multiplied by a number between nought and one)<br />
<br />
'''Theoretical planned lab work'''<br />
<br />
<br />
The team, should this idea have been taken further, would have sent for synthesis of the leader we have designed. And this synthetic gene would be ligated to well characterised promoters whose transcription is dependent on different ligands, for instance the hybrid (insert biobrick code name) and Pbad promoter (BBa_I0500). <br />
Ligate a fluorescent protein to the three prime end of the three loop system leader. <br />
Ligate the two fusions together to make a single insert transform E. coli with the plasmid. <br />
Grow up the cells in a range of concentrations of nitrate and a range of concentrations of arabinose as well as a number of different ratios. For instance colonies grown up in 0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% arabinose as well as 0mM KNO3, 5 mM KNO3, 10 mM KNO3 and 15 mM KNO3 as in the table below. <br />
<br />
[[File:IGEM_multiplicative_write_up_table_1_12.09.23.png | 300px | centre | thumbnail | '''''table 2''''' ''data that would indicate the degree of knockdown '']]<br />
<br />
This would indicate the degree of transcriptional repression caused by the expression of the complimentary RNA it would also confirm the relationship between concentration of RNA complement, transcription initiation rate of promoter attached to the three loop system and and the rate of fall RNA transcript synthesis of the gene by observing harassments caused by fluorescent protein translated from RNA<br />
<br />
[[File:IGEM_division_equation_1_12.09.24.png | 200px |right | thumbnail | '' '''Figure 3.''' Nth term equation for the proportion of transcription of the three loop system RNA that is attenuated by the expression of the complimentary RNA.'']]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''mathmatical modelling'''<br />
<br />
<br />
This equation is in the nth term where each increment is increased conce<br />
Pn = proportion of transcripts that are bound by the complement RNA and attenuated at that level of transcription of the complementary <br />
Pn-1 = at one increment less transcription of R <br />
T = the binding half-life; the mean period for which the two RNAs are annealed. <br />
R = the rate of transcription initiation of the section of RNA complementary to sight 1 <br />
G = the volume of the cell <br />
S = the speed of RNA complement movement in the cell (temperature dependent) <br />
<br />
<br />
=Multi-Sensor System=<br />
[[File:IGEM_multi_sensor_diagram_1_12.09.23.png | 300px | right | thumbnail | '''''Figure 4''''' ''Range of potential concentration ratios indicated by a particular transcription level (arbitrary) of two different promoters (1,2).'']]<br />
Any problems encountered again and again by synthetic biologists is that specific promoters do not exist for a particular ligand and it is very difficult to construct a transcription factor that is specific to the ligand required. There are however often broad spectrum (non-specific ) promoters that can be found for a particular ligand these promoters and their transcription factors will induce transcription initiation when exposed to (or not exposed to) this ligand but also when exposed to other similar ligands. Assuming competitive binding there is an interesting effect which can be exploited to give specific and accurate concentrations of each of the ligands which will bind to and that transcription factor. In its simplest form if there are two different transcription factors each of which will cause transcription when exposed to either or both of two different competitive ligands with different lead constructive active sites and then there will be a different bias in each active site to each ligand meaning any particular transcription rate in one of the promoters indicates any of a continuous range of ratios between the two different ligands (for example nitrates and nitrites) as seen on line 1 (figure 1). Because the two different construction factors have different binding efficiencies to the two different ligands the line of the other promoter will take a different angle (line 2) the point when these two lines cross gives the concentration of both ligands specifically even though the two different promoters are non-specific.<br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
[[image:Two_planes_and_intersection_cropped_1_12.09.25.png | 300px | right | thumbnail | '''''Figure 4''''' ''Range of potential concentration ratios indicated by a particular transcription level (arbitrary) of two different promoters (1,2).'']]<br />
<br />
<br><br><br />
<br />
[[image:Image:Two_planes_and_intersection_cropped_1_12.09.25.png]]<br />
<br />
this effect can be modelled on more than just two substrates. Visually the system can be modelled with each concentration being a different access on a graph (which can soon become hyper dimensional) when you add a third ligand it can soon be seen that the two lines on figure 1 become two planes which intersect along one line (fig 2 ). this means that a third promoter and transcription factor are necessary (the same way that two pinpoint any single point in three-dimensional space it must be triangulated from three other points). Once the third promoter and transcription factor is added the three planes created intersect at a single point which gives the specific concentration of each of the ligands( fig 3 ) . When four ligands are used a hyper dimensional graph of four spatial dimensions with four different plains each pertaining to a single promoter and transcription factor will all intersect at a single point giving the specific concentration of each of the four ligands (and so on and so on). <br />
<br />
''' functional construction'''<br />
<br />
<br />
there are a number of different ways of putting this theory into practice, either each of the different promoters selected can be fused to a fluorescent protein and cloned into different cells along with a constitutively expressed fluorescent protein (to control for metabolic and cell mass differences) and a homogenised sample split between each of the culture media containing fluorescent protein with a different promoters and the expression of each fluorescent protein measured using florimeter and mathematically analysed (see below) to give the exact concentrations of each of the ligands or all of the promoter - fluorescent protein fusions can be ligate it into one insert and transformed into a single cell (at this point the constitutively synthesised fluorescent protein is no longer necessary because comparison is made between expressions of different proteins within the same cell). This system has advantages and disadvantages. Because each cell has the full range of promoters necessary each cell can give a reading for the chemical concentrations in its direct vicinity meaning each cell can become a single “ pixel” which can make up a image of chemical concentrations throughout a sample. This would be useful in environments where diffusion rate is low and chemical concentrations vary e.g. soil. Exact concentrations could be calculated using laser microscopy but a simple photograph would yield much information about the system. <br />
Future lab work<br />
each promoter selected (in our case we have decided to work with small nitrogen species) must be characterised under different levels of and ratios of each of the ligands it will be measuring the concentration of. This data can then be used to analyse readings . <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
WHAT IT IS (CONCEPT EXPLANATION), MATHS FOR IT, RUSSELL TO PRODUCE GRAPHICS, THEORETICAL LABS, GRAPH?<br />
Russell seeings as I'm on it I will put in much graphics I can and have a look at the theoretical labs (Pascoe)<br />
ps there are two three-dimensional grafts to go in as well<br />
<br />
Madigan, M T. Martinko, J M. Stahl, D A. clark (2012). Brock biology of microorganisms . 13th ed. London: Pearson. 232.</div>Rkelwick