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.

Our Genetics Team was responsible for designing and implementing a series of genes which would allow us to exert light based spatial control of apoptosis in E.coli, and eventually transition into A. ferrooxidans. This design includes the expression of a light sensor, which, when exposed to specific wavelengths of light, triggers transcription of a lysis cassette. A few of the parts which we experimented with are BBa_K952000, BBa_K592016, and BBa_K124017.

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 (i.e. copper in the liquid media without ferrooxidans). Since our PCB manufacturing process requires the ferrooxidans to "stay put", we have been developing a solid agar-based media, on which the ferrooxidans grow, and below which the copper is etched, again faster than the basal rate. We have utilized nail polish as a varnish to control the etching until the genetics group completes our biological controled etching mechanism. Click here for details.