IPN UNAM 2006

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First bulletin of iGEM MEXICO November 1, 2006 (bulletin in Spanish). Media:Bulletin-1.pdf

Instituto Politécnico Nacional-Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México

Mexican Staff - iGEM MEXICO

BIO: Biology, COM: Computation, PHY: Physics

Line of Investigation

Our main line of investigation uses unconventional computing as a means of building novel computing paradigms, such as in biology, physics and chemistry.

We are attempting to construct discrete dynamical systems capable of simulating cellular computation. Therefore, our work focuses on molecular computation. We thus have three models using cellular automata theory (you can see our original contributions click here).

Cellular automata (CA) operate over a scales ranging from the molecular level to n-dimensions and are massively parallel. Also, they are capable of supporting universal computation, self-repair and self-reproduction.

We wish contribute to the iGEM project development various protein based bio-components. We will work along three main lines: complex and reversible dynamical systems and formal languages, that support particles and multiple reactions, related to the molecular transformations.

We aim to develop CA software for a specific bio-simulation and gradually implement broader real biological scenarios.

iGEM México Project

EXPERIMENT PROPOSAL: Engineering a genetic signaling cascade to produce a green flourescence protein expression/repression system in Escherichia coli.

IN THIS PART OF THE PROJECT: We intend to emulate some genetic networks already identified in Arabidopsis responsible for the formation of hair in root and leaves. These networks lead to simple genetic circuits of the repression/expression type. We would like to show that these systems support Turing patterns.

MODELLING PROPOSAL: Developing models to describe inside-the-cell metabolic events through a cellular automata approach.

We study two-dimensional cellular automaton, where every cell takes states 0 and 1 and updates its state depending on sum of states of its 8 closest neighbors as follows. Cell in state 0 takes state 1 if there are exactly two neighbors in state 1, otherwise the cell remains in state 0. Cell in state 1 remains in state 1 if there are exactly seven neighbors in state 1, otherwise the cell switches to state 0. CA governed by such cell-state transition rule exhibits reaction-diffusion like pattern dynamics, so we call this Diffusion Rule.

Using the diffusion rule we can generate a dynamical pattern over a system, like turn on/off ligth with alive o dead cells that shows a luminescence, examples include fluorescence, bioluminescence and phosphorescence.

Starting with any configuration, the cells alive are represented in yellow (the activator) and dead in black (the inhibitor), see figure 4. The system is created defining an inicial state over the base configuration (see figure 3). The luminescence is obtained by the evolution of this initial pattern.

Collaborators

Paula Figueroa Arredondo (BIO), Absalom Zamorano (BIO), Claudia Benítez (BIO), Jovita Martínez (BIO), Juan C. Seck Tuoh Mora (COM), Sergio V. Chapa Vergara (COM), Francisco Hernández Quiroz (COM), Carlos A. Espinosa Soto (BIO), Mark Olson (BIO), José U. Cruz Cedillo (COM), Rocío Reséndiz Muñoz (COM), Georgina V. Juárez Martínez (BIO), Giovanna Salamanca Pinzón (BIO), Melina López Meyer (BIO) and Oscar Olmedo (COM).

Institutions

Instituto Politécnico Nacional (National Polytechnic Institute)

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (National Autonomous University of Mexico)

Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo (National Autonomous University of Hidalgo State)

Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados (Centre of Advanced Studies and Researche)