University of Arizona 2006/Project Ideas

From 2006.igem.org

This page is part of the University_of_Arizona_2006 team site.

http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_J21000

These ideas are under development

Contents 1 "Water Color" Painting 2 Characterization of a Bistable Switch 2.1 Problem 2.2 Goals 2.3 Applications 3 Jail Break/Treasure Hunt 3.1 Goals 3.2 Applications 3.3 Project Specifics 3.3.1 Switch States 3.3.2 Questions 3.4 Setup 4 Cops and Robbers

"Water Color" Painting

 TODO: post description/setup of project

Characterization of a Bistable Switch

Problem

• Several teams use a bistable switch but the switch is not well characterized

Goals

• Create a bistable switch that can be added to a larger project
• Characterize the switching mechanism

Applications

• Projects that need to toggle between two states
  • Oscillator_based_Attic
  • Two of our potential projects
• Simple state machine

Jail Break/Treasure Hunt

 This has been voted down in favor of a different project.

Goals

• Use a chemical attractant to move bacteria to a target
• Use a second attractant to move them away from the first target and to a second target
• Floresce when they reach each target

Applications

• Neat blinky bacteria
• Chemical finder
• Good use of a bistable switch
• more to come...

Project Specifics

Use a bistable switch to control the state of the cell.

Switch States

1. Attract to target 1
   
2. Attract to target 2

Flow: State 1 --> State 2 --> (halt)

Questions

• How do we start in state 1
• Are there more than one quorum sensing mechanisms (one for each state)

Setup

• Take a plate media and place two groups of stationary cells a and b.
• Each group of cells emit a different chemical attractant
• Take a third group of cells (the hunters) that use chemotaxis to move toward cell group or target a
• The hunters will group near the first target and activate a quorum mechanism

Quorum Mechanism:
* causes hunters to follow chemical attractant b
* causes first target to emit a florescent protien (or some visible beacon)

• The hunters now group at target b and activate a quorum mechanism

Cops and Robbers

Similar in nature to Jail Break/Treasure Hunt.

 Voted down in favor of a different project.