The International Genetically Engineered Machine competition (iGEM) is the premiere undergraduate Synthetic Biology competition. Student teams are given a kit of biological parts from the Registry of Standard Biological Parts. Working at their own schools over the summer, they use these and new parts of their own design to build biological systems and operate them in living cells. This project design and competition format is an exceptionally motivating and effective teaching method.

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Our project is to revamp a chemical and mechanical manufacturing process, so in addition to working with DNA, we also worked on macro-scale batches of copper foil, ferrooxidans (the bacteria), and other chemicals. Using our liquid media, we were able to grow healthy ferrooxidans and simultaneously dissolve (etch) copper foil much faster than the basal rate (without ferrooxidans). Since our PCB manufacturing process requires the ferrooxidans to "stay put", we have been developing a solid agar-based media, above which the ferrooxidans grow, and below which the copper is etched, again faster than the basal rate. We use nail polish only to simulate patterned etching while the genetics group works. Click here for details.