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Team:St Andrews
From 2012.igem.org
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This website is under construction, but feel free to browse! It'll be completely ready by autumn.We're in week 6 out of 10 of the iGEM project.
St Andrews iGEM 2012
University of St Andrews team for the 2012 International Genetically Engineered Machine competition
Metal binding protein
Precious metals often go unrecyled. Platinum used catalytic converters ends up in road dust. So much platinum accumulates on a 3km stretch of road in one year (60 grams) that it would sell for £2500! We envision engineered bacteria that help reclaim microscopic fragments of rare metals from these unusual sources.
ω−3 Fatty acids synthesis
ω-3 Fatty acids are an essential component of our diet and are para-mount to maintaining human health. But as we sustain vitality in our-selves, we are ruining the planet: seafood is the main source of ω-3 fatty acids, but humanity has overfished the seas and corrupted the food chain in the process. Using the power lent by synthetic biology, we can provide a solution from the very source of ω-3 fatty acids – microalgae and cyano-bacteria that normally synthesize these molecules.
iGEM Team St Andrews 2012 is recreating this synthetic pathway in E. coli, using genes from the cyanobacteria Synechocystis and the trypanosomatid Leishmania major. Combining the DNA code for elongase and desaturase enzymes, we can convert the plain fatty acid of E. coli into highly valuable ω-3 fatty acids.
Scientific impact of iGEM
We investigate the relationship between the iGEM competition and the rest of the scientific community. Is iGEM really having scientific impact? How often, how fairly and by whom are iGEM teams cited?
Modeling ω−3 depletion
We investigate the global effects of industrial omega-3 production from alternative sources using mathematical models. How quickly must this production be instated to preserve marine wildlife diversity? What happens if this is not done?
Projects
We have decided to take on two projects in the wet lab, one of which is the production of ω-3 fatty acids, and the second is making a selection of metal binding proteins. These were both inspired by the preservation of nature. Computer modeling is being run on information we have been able to find on the existing fish stocks and the concentrations of fatty acids in the ecological model.Human practices
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. In lobortis elit facilisis odio egestas dictum. Donec sed orci quis nibh suscipit aliquam. Mauris a risus nisl. Ut vel lorem mauris. Integer et arcu ut tellus cursus rhoncus at sed lorem. Phasellus imperdiet, est quis sagittis laoreet, eros ante tristique magna, sed auctor lorem quam et lectus. Quisque ac sem sit amet nisl consectetur iaculis.Biobricks
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. In lobortis elit facilisis odio egestas dictum. Donec sed orci quis nibh suscipit aliquam. Mauris a risus nisl. Ut vel lorem mauris. Integer et arcu ut tellus cursus rhoncus at sed lorem. Phasellus imperdiet, est quis sagittis laoreet, eros ante tristique magna, sed auctor lorem quam et lectus. Quisque ac sem sit amet nisl consectetur iaculis.Data
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. In lobortis elit facilisis odio egestas dictum. Donec sed orci quis nibh suscipit aliquam. Mauris a risus nisl. Ut vel lorem mauris. Integer et arcu ut tellus cursus rhoncus at sed lorem. Phasellus imperdiet, est quis sagittis laoreet, eros ante tristique magna, sed auctor lorem quam et lectus. Quisque ac sem sit amet nisl consectetur iaculis.Sponsors
iGEM
The International Genetically Engineered Machine competition (iGEM) is the premiere undergraduate Synthetic Biology competition. Student teams are given a kit of biological parts at the beginning of the summer from the Registry of Standard Biological Parts. Working at their own schools over the summer, they use these parts 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.
