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Team:Stanford-Brown/VenusLife/Biosensing
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== '''Remote Biosensing''' == | == '''Remote Biosensing''' == | ||
| - | Given that we are testing aerosolized reproduction in an adapted Millikan | + | Given that we are testing aerosolized reproduction in an adapted Millikan Apparatus, we immediately encounter two problems: 1) the only way we can measure the cells is through a small viewing scope, and 2) we need to see cell division. |
Both of these problems are solved with a cell-cycle dependent reporter: a construct that fluoresces when a cell is undergoing fission. | Both of these problems are solved with a cell-cycle dependent reporter: a construct that fluoresces when a cell is undergoing fission. | ||
Revision as of 23:21, 13 August 2012
Remote Biosensing
Given that we are testing aerosolized reproduction in an adapted Millikan Apparatus, we immediately encounter two problems: 1) the only way we can measure the cells is through a small viewing scope, and 2) we need to see cell division.
Both of these problems are solved with a cell-cycle dependent reporter: a construct that fluoresces when a cell is undergoing fission.
This will allow us to verify aerosolized reproduction in the Millikan apparatus, but this construct has utility extending beyond this isolated need. Incorporation of this cell-cycle dependent reporter into cells allows for remote confirmation of successful growth in situ. In other words, the cell-cycle dependent reporter allows our intrepid space cells to tell us “We’re doing okay!” when venturing off in hostile extraterrestrial environment.
Results
In order to create a cell-cycle dependent reporter, we first need a cell-cycle dependent promoter. Since DnaA not only plays a significant role in initiation of DNA replication but also serves as a transcription factor for fission-related genes, we identified a library of genes transcriptionally activated by DnaA in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. Using colony PCR, we isolated the promoters of these genes (parts K847210, K847211, K847212, K847213) and ligated them to E0840 from the Endy lab.
