Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math all rolled up into iGEM

Ung.igem.org/High_School_Division

iGEM Fusion

Foundation Science for iGEM

Synthetic Biology take molecular genetics and apply engineering principles:

Standardization:

Development of systems that are standards in the biological world

ex. Restriction enzyme systems, promoters/translational unit systems

Decoupling:

Separating a complex system into simple systems that work together

ex. Building a fragrance free chassis, building tolerance to salt water, sense arsenic, and fragrance system. When they are put together

they can make a bacteria that can tolerate salt water, sense arsenic and release a fragrance in the presence of arsenic.

Abstraction:

Systems can be thought of in a hierarchy in two forms

Work in one level and disregard the other levels

Allow for the exchange between levels

ex. Relationship between RBS and ORF

Synthetic Biology

Teams design, engineer, and build a biological machine from standard parts

Team structure:

All students should have beginning biology

Select students that are willing to work after school

May want students that have a computer background

Timeline

Flexible schedule dependent on the students

Afterschool activity

Correlate with curriculum in a class

Registration is from Mid August to Mid November

register at http://ung.igem.org/Main_Page

Team abstract are due in May with registration to the jamboree. Declare a track for the jamboree. Teams will be judged based on the track chosen.

Environmental, Health and Medicine, Informational Processing, Food and energy, Foundational Advance,

Manufacturing, New Application, Software Tools

Jamboree is last Saturday in June

Budget

If you have the equipment, $300-$1,000 to do the lab work

iGEM: International Genetically Engineered Machine

Project idea:

Project brain storming session relevant to a need in society

Ethics of synthetic biology: Just because we can does not mean we do

Pick a Biological system

Research the host: based on the complexity and mentors available to your team

Make sure that you have competent cells to work with. Most cells that come from kits are considered competent. You can look on the suppliers website to find out.

Research existing biological circuits

Team members research current parts that my be available for their system. These parts can be from the host or form the registry.

Design the new circuit to manipulate the host

Team members design the plasmid’s circuit to allow the host to become the machine. This can be a multiple step system where students set goals to achieve during the building session. Students

research plasmid and part design to make their robot. They research current parts and systems to help with the designing.

Community outreach program:

Team members talk about their project to the community.

Hook activities

smelly bacteria or photogenic bacteria

Footsteps of an iGEMer: Fall Semester

Building of the machine:

Teams build the machine using parts

Insertion into a plasmid

Transformation into the host cell

Standardization of results

Mathematically compute what the results mean to the user

ex. Level of florescence to concentration of promoter

Celebration of success

Jamboree

Teams get together to display their results at the poster session. Then teams do a 20 minute presentation to judges.

October

Teams can be volunteers for the Americas regional in Indianapolis

Teams present their posters during the poster session at the Americas Regional

Footsteps of an iGEMer: Spring Semester

Search for PartsNatural DNA

Parts from the Registry

iGEM parts that are received after registration

Extraction of the parts form the genome

Using primers ordered from a vendor

Write a lab that has the part and request that part

In the research of the part, students will read about labs performing testing. Students can contact the lab and ask for a sample.

Acquire the Parts

Restriction Enzymes

3 A Assembly Method

Primers and homologies

C:\Users\William Schini\Videos\The Gibson Assembly Song.mp4

Gibson Assembly

Community outreach:

2012 each team will be asked to develop and implement a community outreach program. Students can talk with local groups about their project. Develop activities and perform them with middle school students.

Ethics of Synthetic Biology (GMO):

Team leaders can discuss the ethics of GMO’s and understand the uses of GMO’s

Create new parts for submission into the registry

Natural

Engineered

Create new plasmid backbone

Submit work for publishing

Other avenues

Benefits for the student:Any team competing in the jamboree will be able to

present their poster at the collegiate regional. Potentially to the final jamboree.

Students get to meet with leading scientists in the field of molecular genetics, synthetic biology, biology, math, and engineering.

Connections developed through contact with mentors and scientists.

Colleges do notice iGEM on applications, especially schools of medicine.