Team:Gaston Day School

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Gaston Day School's iGEM project for 2012 is composed of three parts. First, we are further developing our Red Fluorescent Nitrate Detector from last year. We plan to continue the nitrate detector since nitrates pose a relevant problem in our community due to large farms. The Red Fluorescent Protein (RFP) has a significant advantage over the standard Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP); RFP, unlike GFP, is visible with the naked eye.  This is advantageous because in most parts of the world, citizens do not carry UV light in their pocket! The detector is very simplistic. After a water sample is placed in the detector, it will fluoresce with a red color if nitrates are present. Furthermore, it will remain clear when nitrates are not present. 
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<h1><center>Detection of Heavy Metal Contaminants in Water</h1><br>
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Currently, we have a functional prototype. However, it is not sensitive enough to be effective. Nitrate ingestion restricts hemoglobin’s ability to carry oxygen.
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Without oxygen, cyanosis often occurs in young children and babies. This is known as Methemoglobinemia, or blue baby syndrome.
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In order to increase the sensitivity of our machine, we will use a procedure presented at the 2011 iGEM competition by the University of California at Davis team. They created an innovative protocol for mutagenic PCR. More information about the team and procedure is available at https://2011.igem.org/Team:UC_Davis/Project.
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We also plan to create a Cadmium Sensor; the machine will use a Cadmium promoter paired with Green Fluorescent Protein. GFP will be used over RFP since it has a higher sensitivity.
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Cadmium, a known carcinogen, is a toxic heavy metal that is strictly regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Cadmium is used globally in fertilizer, battery, paint, plastic, and electroplating industries. Exposure occurs from water, food, batteries, tobacco / marijuana, paints and many other sources. Cadmium exposure may cause damage to the victim’s heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and reproductive system; after long term exposure, death is a possibility. Because of its irreversibility, Cadmium-induced kidney damage is associated with renal failure. (Global Healing Center, 2012).
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The final project will be based solely on safety. Both sensors use genetically modified bacteria to provide the fluorescence. After use, our directions recommend treating the bacteria with bleach for appropriate disposure (included the kit). As we all know, not everyone reads the directions! We are afraid that instead of properly treating the bacteria with bleach, the users will decide to dump it down the drain,
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in their garden, or other locations. “What will happen if the user does (fill in the blank)?” is our motto for our safety project.
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Bibliography:
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Global Healing Center. (2012). Global Healing Center. Retrieved July 10, 2012 from
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Despite improvements in water quality, contaminants still interfere with farming in many of the world’s biomes. For 2012 the Gaston Day School iGEM team’s project is to help solve this problem by using the existing registry of parts to create new heavy metal detectors. We have shifted our project from last year’s nitrate detector in order to focus on cadmium, arsenic, and lead contaminants in water. These metals are known to be used in insecticides, fungicides, and fertilizers and are also byproducts of industrial processes such as smelting. If ingested they can cause numerous health problems (more information can be found at the bottom of the page). To detect each metal, we constructed sensors by using multiple promoters to narrow the range of the heavy metals down to one or two contaminants. Then we combined it with GFP reporters to create the new part. GFP was used because our spectrophotometer can accurately measure it.
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      http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/heavy-metals/dangers-of-cadmium
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Once the parts were created, they were tested for accuracy and sensitivity. Many farmers need a way to measure the amount of heavy metals in water to determine whether the levels are dangerous; therefore, each heavy metal detector must be as sensitive as their respective federal limits in water. As the project continues, we plan to test the safety of the engineered bacteria and create survivorship curves as they are released into different environments, similar to last year’s testing. When the final kit is constructed we plan to include the heavy metal detectors and all components necessary to run, accurately measure, and safely dispose of the tests. This kit will help agricultural and environmental fields make improvements in safety.
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/9/91/GordonlogofGDS.jpg">Gaston Day School 2011 iGEM Logo</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2012/9/97/Awgdslogo.png">Gaston Day School 2012 iGEM Logo</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2012/e/ec/Teampic1.JPG">Team Picture</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/7/70/Steven_useGDS.jpg">Steven "Dedicated Team Leader"</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/d/d9/ParthuploadGDS.jpg">Parth "The Dedicated Team Co-Leader"</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/4/46/GordonuploadGDS.jpg">Gordon "Normal?"</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/e/e3/Sam_USEGDS.jpg">Sam "Sam the Man"</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2012/6/66/Willpic.JPG">Will "The Peasant"</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2012/d/d7/Audreypic.JPG">Audrey</option>
<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/c/cc/SignproblemsGDS.jpg">iGEM Warning Sign</option>
<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/c/cc/SignproblemsGDS.jpg">iGEM Warning Sign</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/9/93/NrfptestGDS.jpg">NRFP Test</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2012/2/2d/Pcrupload.jpg">Our PCR Machine!!</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/3/3d/Nrfptest3GDS.jpg">Another NRFP Test</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/b/b8/UploadCSGDS.jpg">Construction of the Nitrate Detector</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/6/6c/AutoclavefinalGDS.jpg">Autoclave</option>
<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/6/6c/AutoclavefinalGDS.jpg">Autoclave</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/a/a5/GelboxGDS.jpg">Gel Electrophoresis Box</option>
 
<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/4/4d/LabareaGDS.jpg">Chemical Storage Room</option>
<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/4/4d/LabareaGDS.jpg">Chemical Storage Room</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/2/25/LandfarmGDS.jpg">Farm Land...Potential Place of Use for the Nitrate Detector</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/2/25/LandfarmGDS.jpg">Farm Land...Potential Place of Use for the Heavy Metal Detector</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/f/fc/AgricultureGDS.jpg    ">Farm Land...Potential Place of Use for the Nitrate Detector</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/f/fc/AgricultureGDS.jpg    ">Farm Land...Potential Place of Use for the Heavy Metal Detector</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/9/91/PigsGDS.jpg">High Nitrate Levels are Common around Hog Farms</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/3/3e/TractorGDS.jpg">Farm Land...Potential Place of Use for the Nitrate Detector</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/1/11/HwboardGDS.jpg">iGEM Board at Gaston Day School!
<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/1/11/HwboardGDS.jpg">iGEM Board at Gaston Day School!
<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/e/eb/StevenparthGDS.jpg">Steven & Parth Working on the Website</option>
<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/e/eb/StevenparthGDS.jpg">Steven & Parth Working on the Website</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/d/d5/TeamuploadGDS.jpg">Team Picture</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/a/a5/GelboxGDS.jpg">Gel Electrophoresis Box</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/7/70/Steven_useGDS.jpg">Steven "Coleader and IT Man"</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/d/d9/ParthuploadGDS.jpg">Parth "The Dedicated Team Leader</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/4/46/GordonuploadGDS.jpg">Gordon "Normal?"</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/e/e3/Sam_USEGDS.jpg">Sam "Sam the Man"</option>
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<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/3/3d/Qwirkle_uploadGDS.jpg">...BREAKTIME!!!
<option value="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/3/3d/Qwirkle_uploadGDS.jpg">...BREAKTIME!!!
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'''Links to More Info:'''
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*http://www.lef.org/protocols/health_concerns/heavy_metal_toxicity_01.htm
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*http://www.psr.org/environment-and-health/confronting-toxics/heavy-metals/
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*http://www.water.ncsu.edu/watershedss/info/hmetals.html
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*http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/
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*http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/spl/

Latest revision as of 21:13, 3 October 2012


Detection of Heavy Metal Contaminants in Water


Despite improvements in water quality, contaminants still interfere with farming in many of the world’s biomes. For 2012 the Gaston Day School iGEM team’s project is to help solve this problem by using the existing registry of parts to create new heavy metal detectors. We have shifted our project from last year’s nitrate detector in order to focus on cadmium, arsenic, and lead contaminants in water. These metals are known to be used in insecticides, fungicides, and fertilizers and are also byproducts of industrial processes such as smelting. If ingested they can cause numerous health problems (more information can be found at the bottom of the page). To detect each metal, we constructed sensors by using multiple promoters to narrow the range of the heavy metals down to one or two contaminants. Then we combined it with GFP reporters to create the new part. GFP was used because our spectrophotometer can accurately measure it.

Once the parts were created, they were tested for accuracy and sensitivity. Many farmers need a way to measure the amount of heavy metals in water to determine whether the levels are dangerous; therefore, each heavy metal detector must be as sensitive as their respective federal limits in water. As the project continues, we plan to test the safety of the engineered bacteria and create survivorship curves as they are released into different environments, similar to last year’s testing. When the final kit is constructed we plan to include the heavy metal detectors and all components necessary to run, accurately measure, and safely dispose of the tests. This kit will help agricultural and environmental fields make improvements in safety.





iGEM 2012 Gaston Day School


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Links to More Info:

  • http://www.lef.org/protocols/health_concerns/heavy_metal_toxicity_01.htm
  • http://www.psr.org/environment-and-health/confronting-toxics/heavy-metals/
  • http://www.water.ncsu.edu/watershedss/info/hmetals.html
  • http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/
  • http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/spl/
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