Davidson 2006

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Project Overview

[http://partsregistry.org/cgi/partsdb/pgroup.cgi?pgroup=iGEM2006partsregistry.org/cgi/partsdb/pgroup.cgi?pgroup=iGEM2006&group=Davidson Davidson Parts]

Team Members

Tools and Resources

Check out our [http://www.bio.davidson.edu/courses/synthetic/photos/FlapJack_HotCakes.html Official Team Photo]
Left to Right: Malcolm, Laurie, Sabriya, Erin and Lance
PROJECT OVERVIEW

Goal
Our goal is to mathematically model and genetically engineer a biological system that can compute the solution to a puzzle called the pancake problem. Our work was done in collaboration with the [http://2006.igem.org/wiki/index.php/Missouri_Western_State_University_2006 Missouri Western iGEM Team] and an undergraduate research fellow from [http://www.hamptonu.edu/ Hampton University].


The Pancake Problem: at the Interface of Math and Biology
Our project integrates math and biology using the pancake problem, a puzzle in which a disordered series of units (or stack of pancakes) must be shuffled into the correct order. Every unit, or pancake, must be placed in the proper order (largest on bottom, smallest on top) and in the proper orientation (burnt side down, golden side up). Try this puzzle out for yourself [http://www.cut-the-knot.org/SimpleGames/Flipper.shtml here]. Trial and error is one approach to solving the problem, but how could one compute the quickest solution? Our approach is to model the problem by representing a pancake stack mathematically and biologically.

A stack of pancakes can be represented by a series of integers in a certain order (ie. 1, 2, 3 vs. 3, 2, 1) where orientation is represented by a positive or negative value (1 vs. -1). Similarly, a series of DNA segments has a certain order (ie. promoter, coding region 1, coding region 2) and each unit has two possible orientations (plus strand vs. minus strand).


Approach
Math: Signed permutations can be used to represent pancake stacks. "1, 2, 3" is a stack of three pancakes all in the proper order and orientation. "2, 3, -1" is the same stack, but here, pancake 1 is out of order and in the wrong orientation (burnt side up). Lance, please work on this section.

Logo
Biology: To flip fragments of DNA, we have reconstituted the Hin/ Hix invertase system from Salmonella typhimurium as a BioBrick compatible system in E. coli. We built the recombinational enhancer (RE) and Hin invertase recognition sequence HixC using the genomic sequence of S. typhimurium strain XX (need to insert name). Hin invertase was cloned from S. typhimurium, strain TA100.


Methods and Results


Conclusions

  • Consequences of devices: data storage, possible application for rearranging transgenes in vivo, proof-of-concept for bacterial computers, first in vivo controlled flipping of DNA??
  • Next steps: can solve problem but need control over kinetics
  • Lessons learned:
    • Troubleshooting, communication, teamwork, publicity
    • Math and Biology meshed really well and even uncovered a new proof
    • Multiple campuses can increase capacity through communication and cooperation
    • Size of school is not a limiting factor
    • We had a blast and learned heaps
TEAM MEMBERS

Students

  • Sabriya Rosemond is a rising junior biology major at Hampton University.
  • Erin Zwack is a rising junior biology major at Davidson College.
  • Lance Harden is a rising sophomore math major at Davidson College.
  • Samantha Simpson is a rising sophomore at Davidson College who might design a major in genomics.

Faculty

  • A. Malcolm Campbell [http://www.bio.davidson.edu/campbell Department of Biology]
  • Laurie J. Heyer [http://www.davidson.edu/math/heyer/ Department of Mathematics]
  • Karmella Haynes [http://www.bio.davidson.edu/ Department of Biology - teaching postdoc and visiting assistant professor]
TOOLS AND RESOURCES

iGEM 2006 Jamboree

White Board

Biology Tools (Wet Bench)

Math Tools

  • Pancake Simulators, aka The Lancelator (MATLAB Code)
  • Other Flipping Simulators
    • [http://gcat.davidson.edu/IGEM06/randompancakeflipper.m User-Friendly Version]
    • [http://gcat.davidson.edu/IGEM06/powerflipper.m Power-User Version]
    • [http://gcat.davidson.edu/IGEM06/powerflipperplus.m Power-User Update]
    • [http://gcat.davidson.edu/IGEM06/findmin.m Findmin]
    • [http://gcat.davidson.edu/IGEM06/bigtrial.m Bigtrial]
  • Graphing Tools
    • [http://gcat.davidson.edu/IGEM06/pancakeplotter.m Pancakeplotter]
    • [http://gcat.davidson.edu/IGEM06/permplotter.m Permplotter]
    • [http://gcat.davidson.edu/IGEM06/adjmat.m Adjmat - creates adjacency matrices]
    • [http://gcat.davidson.edu/IGEM06/bioadjmat.m Bioadjmat - Adjmat with biological equivalence]
    • [http://gcat.davidson.edu/IGEM06/make_radial.m Make_radial - creates a radially-embedded graph]
    • [http://gcat.davidson.edu/IGEM06/find_diam.m Find_diam - finds the diameter of a pancake graph]

Bio-Math Tools

  • [http://gcat.davidson.edu/IGEM06/signedperms.m Signedperms - lists all signed permutations for a stack of k pancakes]
  • [http://gcat.davidson.edu/IGEM06/bioperms.m Bioperms - Signedperms with biological equivalence]

Assembly Plans

Progress

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