BU06:Reading and Discussion 1

From 2006.igem.org

We've decided to meet at 4:30 in Ingell's on Thursday, June 15

Don't skim these readings - go in as deep as you can. Do the suggested excercises, because they are exactly what we will be doing for prepraration and in lab. Visit the Registry. Look up concepts that you don't understand and really try to understand the biology. That said, the readings web-labs from a class last semester at MIT, and 1) the Registry has gotten a layover, so some of the instructions concerning it don't make complete sense (they are indicated below), 2) don't worry about actually writing the term paper. DO imagine what it would take to do the lab, because it's closely related to what we will actually be working on in the laboratory.

Don't forget that these will be a great preparation for James Brown's talks on Monday.

Also, remember that you can use the "printable version" link in the "Toolbox" to the left to get a printer-friendly version of this page.

Reading 0 - LuxR, LuxI and Cell-to-cell signaling

The elements of the signaling system described here are naturally how the Lux operon is controlled

Reading 1 - Tools for systems engingeering

1. Register as a user on the Registry if you like, but DON'T SUBMIT ANY NEW PARTS!
2. The Registry's organization has changed; to explore part types, click on the picture + link titled "Browse parts by type" on the Registry's main page.
3. Questions #7 & #8 are optional as they have become more confusing since the registry was updated.
4. The same goes for the Composite Parts section - instead, consider why BBa_F1610 might be an interesting part for our team.
5. Design your own part under the heading Specify a protein generator..., and be prepared to continue developing it in the next reading. Specifically, design a part to express LuxI or LuxR. You may find parts that do this already exist in the Registry. If so, try and identify elements of their design (i.e. subparts) that might make them incompatible with the Lux operon part (i.e. LuxCDABE, but not LuxI or LuxR) our team wants to build, and either modify or keep the current design handy for the next reading.
6. Try your best to understand the steps outlined in the experimental module, but don't stress.
7. Absolutely consider each of the bullet points under For next time.

Reading 2 - Adventures in Synthetic Biology

1. Good thing you already read this while doing Reading 1. For thoroughness (you are rockstar synthetic biologists, and rockstars are always thorough), reconsider how PoPS, the common signal carrier described in the comic, can be applied to the parts you see at the registry. Specifically, use "PoPS" to justify or criticize the following statements:
   1. "a terminator is analogous to a grounding device in electrical engineering"
   2. "BBa_I14032 works just like a battery"
   3. "the closest part I can find to work like a wire is an ORF"

Reading 3 - Basic bacterial photography: black and white

Reading 4 - Advanced bacterial photography: 2 color

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