Team:Dundee/HumanPractice/CaseStudy

From 2013.igem.org

(Difference between revisions)
 
(22 intermediate revisions not shown)
Line 15: Line 15:
       <div class="row" style="text-align:justify;margin-top:-20px;">
       <div class="row" style="text-align:justify;margin-top:-20px;">
         <div class="span6">
         <div class="span6">
-
           <p>Many open waters located in and around Dundee are affected by Blue-Green Algae. This was one motivation that made selecting our ToxiMop project appropriate because we are tackling a local problem that also has worldwide implications.</p><br>
+
           <p><div style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 5px"><strong>ToxiMop tackles a local problem.</strong></div>
 +
Many of the water bodies located in and around Dundee have been affected by outbreaks of Blue-Green Algae. This was a motivation which drove the team to choose this project and to attempt to find a solution which would have a local impact with worldwide applications.</p><br>
-
         <p> One particular location in Dundee where Blue-Green Algae has had a dramatic effect is Clatto Country Park. In the past the park has had up to 95,000 visitors per year with recreational activities such as watersports, children’s play areas and picnic sites being the main attractions focussed around the parks freshwater reservoir and surrounding woods.</p><br>
+
         <p><div style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 5px"><strong>Blue-Green Algae has affected Clatto Country Park.</strong></div>
 +
This is one of many locations in Dundee where Blue-Green Algae has had a dramatic effect. In the past, the park has had peaks of 95,000 visitors per year with recreational activities (including watersports), children’s play areas and picnic sites providing entertainment for all ages. All of these attractions were focussed around the park’s freshwater reservoir and the surrounding woods.</p><br>
-
           <p>Moving forward in time, with the Blue-Green Algae problems faced by the park each year, recreational swimming is no longer permitted in the reservoir. This has shutdown the watersports programme at Clatto and the signage to warn people of the danger faced by the water has had such a dramatic effect to reduce the number of visitors per year to less than 30,000. This reduction in visitors has led to the closure of staffing facilities. The aim of ToxiMop project is to restore open waters like Clatto back to their former glory.</p><br>
+
           <p><div style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 5px"><strong>ToxiMop is a prototype device to help restore water bodies.</strong></div>
 +
Moving forward in time, with Blue-Green Algae problems faced by Clatto each year, recreational swimming is no longer permitted. This has led to a closure of the watersport programmes and the display of signage to warn the public of the danger associated with entering the water. These actions have had such a dramatic effect upon the use of Clatto that the number of visitors per year has reduced to less than 30,000. This reduction in visitors has led to the closure of the staffing facilities in the park and has social and economic implications for the immediate community. Clatto Country Park is now a shadow of its former glory.</p><br>
-
           <p>We have been working with George Potts, Senior Countryside Ranger, who has been involved at Clatto for 40 years. We want to raise awareness that the testing procedures at Clatto are insufficient to demand the closure recreational activities on the reservoir. This is strongly linked to the development of our MopTopus electronic sensing device, which can be used as a more appropriate measure of the toxin levels in the water. </p><br>
+
           <p><div style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 5px"><strong>MOP campaign raised awareness that testing and regulations may be inappropriate.</strong></div>
 +
In order to best understand the problems faced by Clatto Country Park, we have been working with Senior Countryside Ranger George Potts who has been involved in the operations of the park for over 40 years. Having discussed the issues surrounding park closures due to algal bloom outbreaks, the team felt that the current testing and safety procedures implemented at the park were in need of questioning. To investigate the suitability of these procedures, the team started the Mop Campaign with the intention of bringing together law legislators and scientists.</p><br>
 +
 
 +
          <p><div style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 5px"><strong>Moptopus shows the feasibility of a daily monitoring system</strong></div>
 +
Currently, sampling is carried out once a month. When a high number of cyanobacterial cells are detected, the park is said to have failed the sample test. Three clean tests are subsequently required to clear the reservoir for recreational use. Therefore, should high levels of cyanobacterial cells be detected during the summer, the reservoir is closed for a minimum of 3 months. Using synthetic biology, our ToxiMop project has the potential to allow the rapid re-opening of locations like Clatto Country Park. With time and effort, the park could be restored and once more become an invaluable part of the community. </p><br>
-
          <p>Currently sampling is carried out once a month, and when a dangerous level of toxin is detected three clean tests are required to give the all clear to the reservoir. Therefore during the summer after microcystin is detected the reservoir is closed for 3 months minimum. MopTopus will allow daily samples and updates to be taken. </p><br>
 
-
          <p>Dundee City Councils guidelines enforced for the dangerous levels of toxins for recreational sports are as advised by the WHO for safe drinking water, whereas in other locations around the world different practices are used. We want to work with Ancrum Outdoor Activity Centre, Dundee City Council and SEPA to raise awareness on the safety of the water and how using synthetic biology our MopTopus device has the potential to return locations like Clatto back to popular venues for future generations. </p><br>
 
-
          </p>
 
         </div>
         </div>
Line 32: Line 36:
          
          
           <div class="span6">
           <div class="span6">
-
               <img id="image-6" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3813/9248988522_52a4a7339f_z.jpg">
+
               <img id="image-6" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5454/9613991733_c877da7718_o.jpg" style="padding-top:15px;">
             </div><br>
             </div><br>
Line 39: Line 43:
             <div class="span6">
             <div class="span6">
-
               <img id="image-6" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2877/9248991940_cdbfbb2b9d_z.jpg">
+
               <img id="image-6" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2877/9248991940_cdbfbb2b9d_z.jpg" style="padding-top:15px;">
             </div><br><br>
             </div><br><br>
Line 46: Line 50:
           <div class="span6">
           <div class="span6">
-
               <img id="image-6" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7340/9248986262_af86451e09_z.jpg">
+
               <img id="image-6" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3813/9248988522_52a4a7339f_z.jpg" style="padding-top:15px;">
             </div>
             </div>
-
        <!--<div class="span6">
+
          <div class="span6">
-
               <img id="image-6" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7341/9246199063_07c542b14e_z.jpg">
+
               <img id="image-6" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/a/ac/Moptopus.jpg" style="padding-top:15px;" width="100%">
-
             </div> -->
+
             </div>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
         </div>
         </div>

Latest revision as of 15:32, 1 October 2013

iGEM Dundee 2013 · ToxiMop

ToxiMop tackles a local problem.
Many of the water bodies located in and around Dundee have been affected by outbreaks of Blue-Green Algae. This was a motivation which drove the team to choose this project and to attempt to find a solution which would have a local impact with worldwide applications.


Blue-Green Algae has affected Clatto Country Park.
This is one of many locations in Dundee where Blue-Green Algae has had a dramatic effect. In the past, the park has had peaks of 95,000 visitors per year with recreational activities (including watersports), children’s play areas and picnic sites providing entertainment for all ages. All of these attractions were focussed around the park’s freshwater reservoir and the surrounding woods.


ToxiMop is a prototype device to help restore water bodies.
Moving forward in time, with Blue-Green Algae problems faced by Clatto each year, recreational swimming is no longer permitted. This has led to a closure of the watersport programmes and the display of signage to warn the public of the danger associated with entering the water. These actions have had such a dramatic effect upon the use of Clatto that the number of visitors per year has reduced to less than 30,000. This reduction in visitors has led to the closure of the staffing facilities in the park and has social and economic implications for the immediate community. Clatto Country Park is now a shadow of its former glory.


MOP campaign raised awareness that testing and regulations may be inappropriate.
In order to best understand the problems faced by Clatto Country Park, we have been working with Senior Countryside Ranger George Potts who has been involved in the operations of the park for over 40 years. Having discussed the issues surrounding park closures due to algal bloom outbreaks, the team felt that the current testing and safety procedures implemented at the park were in need of questioning. To investigate the suitability of these procedures, the team started the Mop Campaign with the intention of bringing together law legislators and scientists.


Moptopus shows the feasibility of a daily monitoring system
Currently, sampling is carried out once a month. When a high number of cyanobacterial cells are detected, the park is said to have failed the sample test. Three clean tests are subsequently required to clear the reservoir for recreational use. Therefore, should high levels of cyanobacterial cells be detected during the summer, the reservoir is closed for a minimum of 3 months. Using synthetic biology, our ToxiMop project has the potential to allow the rapid re-opening of locations like Clatto Country Park. With time and effort, the park could be restored and once more become an invaluable part of the community.