Presentation

From 2006.igem.org

The Powerpoint can be found here: Media:Blue.Water.Presentation.ppt

Presentation Script

Script:

Slide 1: - Introduce the team (i.e. collaborative effort between UofT and UW) and mention the project we're working on.

Slide 2: - Explain what makes this thermometer unique from all other existing models as in other models may limitations to where/how they can be used - size of the species of interest may be too small - research experiments where chemicals, radiation may be toxic for a colony but temperature readings are needed

- A bio-synthetic thermometer may be a possible solution to overcome these obstacles.

- Applications: - use to detect small changes in temperature in very small organisms- we can do this by measuring the intensity of the colour emitted - experiments or places where a quantitative reading cannot be obtained (i.e a person can not physically be there to take the reading (in anaerobic conditions?)) or where air pressure - may also use this to monitor temperature of aquariums using zebra fish for example

Slide 3: - Explain diagrams

Slide 4: - Explain our approach: how we decided to ligate parts separately and build up to the final product - Constructed many new parts - Replaced our cI repressor system with tetracycline repressor (tetR), an analogous system to cI but less leaky and can control externally

Slide 5: - Testing Phase - Intro: - Testing was split into 3 modules. - Each module acts as a checkpoint for a particular milestone in the construction process. - After each module we can ensure a vital component of the construct is functional. - State the goal/purpose of each module and how it was executed.

Slide 6: - Test Results

- Tested the intermediary pBad/araC + LacI ts coding sequence (R0011) + reporter gene thoroughly - We ensured that module 1 tests passed before continuing construction.

Slide 7 Conclusions/Results! - Does it work/or not? - What we learned from constructing the device - at the beginning, we tested all enzymes for functionality via test plasmid + running a gel - while doing this we learned that Xba1 works slower than EcoRI, SpeI, and PstI - Team communication, allocate more time for testing in addition to construction/designate a test team - Limitations to the device - can only detect temperatures in a small range - does fluorescent protein stay? or decay quickly? ask Charles/Andy - Experiments involving radiation - this thermometer cannot be used as the radiation will damage the DNA - Expression of the reporter gene must be as sensitive as the activation of the transcription factor (for accuracy in timing events dependent on temperature and time) - Future work that can be done to improve the device/design for next year - investigate repressors etc that would be good for larger temperature ranges - this would increase the application of the device allowing it to be another alternative to detecting temperature changes in biological systems.

Slide 8: - Team Members

Slide 9: - Acknowledgements