Team:Gaston Day School

From 2012.igem.org

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Gaston Day School's iGEM project for 2012 is composed of three parts. For part 1 we are
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<h1><center>Detection of Heavy Metal Contaminants in Water</h1><br>
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further developing our Red Fluorescent Nitrate Detector fom last year. We plan to continue
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the nitrate detector since nitrates pose a relevant problem in our local commnuity due
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to large farms. We decided to use the Red Fluorescent Protein over the traditional Green FLuorescent
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Protein. The RFP gives our detector a signifcant advantage over others. The fluorescense
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is visible with the naked eye rather than the use of a black light. This is an advantage
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because in both the United States and third world countries, farmers and homeowners do
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not carry a black light in their pockets. The detector is simple to use. A water sample is
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placed in the detector. After a set amount of time, if nitrates are present, the water sample
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will turn bright red. If they are not present, the water sample will remain clear.
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However, this year we need to make a few adjustments and improvements. Our nitrate detector
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is not sensitive enough. As of now, we have a functional prototype. The problem is that
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when it is able to detect the level of nitrates, the person would already have suffered
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severe side effects if not death. The problem with nitrate is that it limits
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hemoglobin's ability to carry oxygen. The largest problem usually occurs in small children.
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Without the ocyge, the baby turns blue. This is known as methemoglobenemia, or blue
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baby syndrome.
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For the second part of our project this year, we would like to construct a Cadmium sensor.
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Both detectors use the genetically modified bacteria to provide the fluorescent color.
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After use, our directions recommend treating the bacteria with bleach (included the the
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kit). As we all know, not everyone reads the directions! We are afraid that instead of
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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. We plan for the last part of our project to be based
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solely on safety. What will happen if the user does (fill in the blank)?
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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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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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background: #fff url(https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2012/e/e4/Background_final_pattern.png) repeat  fixed;
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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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