Team:TU-Eindhoven/Human Practices
From 2012.igem.org
Discovery Festival
Together with the iGEM teams of the VU University Amsterdam, the University of Amsterdam, the Wageningen University and the University of Groningen, we will attend the Discovery Festival in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Eindhoven on Friday September 28th.
The Discovery Festival is an annual festival in NEMO Amsterdam and is organized for the first time in Erasmus MC Rotterdam and STRP Eindhoven this year. We expect over 5000 visitors during the night where science meets art.
We will take our visitors on a tour in our provisional laboratory, where they will learn about the process of genetic modification. We want to give people a feel of how synthetic biology is performed, from ordering a perceptible characteristic in the form of a BioBrick, to observing this implement feature in bacteria. The visitors participate alone or in a group up to four persons. Each group is accompanied by an iGEM team member as expert, who will inform the participants about the biological processes and how to carry out the different steps.
After getting a lab coat and a pair of gloves, each participant may choose one of the possible BioBricks from the computer screen. When the participant clicks on the desired characteristic, a screen opens with the DNA sequence of this BioBrick. Next, the participant will order the BioBrick and will receive an envelope, containing a flask with fake DNA. Subsequently, the DNA will be mixed with water using a vortex. The DNA will be well mixed and ready for use. Each participant will get his or her own test tube and will pipette some fake bacterial culture in this tube. The DNA will be added to these test tubes as well. The test tubes containing DNA and bacteria will be put in an electroporation-device. The participant may push the ‘flash’-button. The next step will be to plate the bacteria on an agar plate. Therefore the participant will genuinely pour some bacteria from the test tube on the agar plate and smear it on the plate with a spatula. The agar plates are then put into something that looks like an incubator. After removing the plates from the incubator, the results are shown to the participants.
Furthermore, the visitors can share their views on new topics, by answering the question: “What would you like to make using genetically engineered bacteria?” We are looking forward to introduce them to the wonderful world of synthetic biology!
For more details, check out the website of the Discovery Festival: [http://www.discoveryfestival.nlwww.discoveryfestival.nl].
iGEM symposium Eindhoven 2012
All Dutch and a few other iGEM teams from neighbour countries are invited to join a symposium organised by iGEM team TU-Eindhoven. They are invited on the 3rd of October to have lunch, listen to some guest speakers about synthetic biology, present their own work and to enjoy this gathering with some late afternoon drinks.