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Team:Queens Canada
From 2012.igem.org
ChimeriQ
This year, our team is investigating new methods of increasing the efficiency of bioremediation and biosynthesis using modified bacteria. The development of the oil sands in Alberta, has resulted in the build up of toxic byproducts stored in massive tailings ponds. To help resolve these issues, our goals can be divided up into three main categories: the binding of pollutants, adhesion and aggregation of bacteria, and catalysis.
Most bacteria possess tail-like appendages called flagella, which can be genetically altered for novel functions. Each flagella is made up of a number of polymerizing proteins, often called flagellin. By making chimeric insertions in the variable domain of the flagellin, we can incorporate metal binding proteins, enzymes, adhesive proteins as well as scaffolding proteins to further extend the possible applications. To accomplish this, we can summarize the majority of our work into three main tasks:- clone and modify the constant domains of the flagellin protein for making insertions using Biobricks and parts obtained from the wild.
- design a flexible, compatible cloning method for efficientlymaking chimeric insertions using Biobricks and other parts
- introduce binding and catalysis to the length of the flagella.
Check out our article in Kingston This Week!
SynthetiQ Experimental Dance
As part of the human practices component of our project, we will be creating a new and unique group devoted to developing dance as a means of teaching, learning, and explaining scientific concepts.
Today, scientists and teachers, of any subject, everywhere around the world are working hard to explain their ideas to their students, investors, friends, family and other scientists. Often, we end up in situations where our ideas are so incredible, they are difficult to explain or someone else's explanation of their idea fails to help with your understanding.
Inspired by Dr. John Bohannon and the Dance Your PhD Contest, SynthetiQ's primary goal is to provide a new, unique alternative for explaining scientific concepts. By using dance as a means of demonstrating concepts and ideas, we can make complex, or straight-forward, scientific research easier to understand, while leaving a lasting impact on the audience, be it in a classroom, lecture hall, conference or for a panel of investors. An excellent demonstration of this idea can be found in Dr. John Bohannon's talk at TedxBrussels from 2011.
