Team:CU-Boulder

From 2013.igem.org

(Difference between revisions)

Revision as of 17:54, 22 August 2013

Our Vision...

The main focus of the iGEM project here at CU-Boulder was to help make synthetic biology more accessible and affordable. We spent the summer developing parts, procedures, and documentation to help make this vision a reality. The original goal was to create the constructs and purification methods necessary to produce and isolate restriction enzymes. Along the way we developed some novel approaches to DNA and protein purification and developed experimentally tested protocols for these and other procedures essential to Biobrick assembly. Our purification methods exemplify the ideal of using common lab materials to make performing everyday lab techniques as accessible and inexpensive as possible. A related aspect of our project was exploring methods of recycling consumables associated with lab work in order to reduce waste and material expenses. We hope that our findings using this "do-it-yourself" approach of synthetic biology help make this type of research more accessible to those where funding is a limiting factor.

One of our main goals with our project here at CU-Boulder is to make it so the synthetic biology is more accessible. This would promote "tinkering" and allow more minds to think about synthetic biology. Who knows, maybe the next Steve Jobs of synthetic biology is out there!

Restriction enzymes are an expensive, yet necessary tool in synthetic biology. We are trying to create an affordable, efficient and easy to use kit that would allow for scientist and students to make their own restriction enzymes to do biobrick assemblies!

ApoI is a restriction enzyme that is used to test strains of malaria for chloroquine resistance. In the field, doctors can test can test strains with ApoI and see what type of treatment should be given for a patient. We are trying to create an affordable, efficient, and easy to use kit for scientist in the field to create their own ApoI restriction enzyme.

@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 <div class="row-fluid">
 <div class="span12"><div class="shadow-bottom">
-<p>Restriction enzymes are invaluable tools in the field synthetic biology, and are essential for carrying out BioBrick assembly. However, these enzymes also represent a significant portion of the cost associated with gene cloning and DNA analysis. Here at the University of Colorado-Boulder, our vision is to develop the parts and methods necessary to produce and purify these enzymes cheaply and reliably. In order to make our project successful, we will be creating the BioBrick constructs that contain the restriction enzymes we are trying to produce. In addition, we will be developing procedures that allow us to purify these enzymes cheaply and effectively. The end result of our project will be the completion of several RE prep kits which will contain all of the components necessary to create working stocks of several commonly used restriction enzymes, including EcoRI, XbaI, and PstI which are all part of the BioBrick standard.
+<dt>Our Vision...</dt>
-</p>
+<p></p>
+<dd>The main focus of the iGEM project here at CU-Boulder was to help make synthetic biology more accessible and affordable.  We spent the summer developing parts, procedures, and documentation to help make this vision a reality.  The original goal was to create the constructs and purification methods necessary to produce and isolate restriction enzymes.  Along the way we developed some novel approaches to DNA and protein purification and developed experimentally tested protocols for these and other procedures essential to Biobrick assembly.  Our purification methods exemplify the ideal of using common lab materials to make performing everyday lab techniques as accessible and inexpensive as possible.  A related aspect of our project was exploring methods of recycling consumables associated with lab work in order to reduce waste and material expenses.  We hope that our findings using this "do-it-yourself" approach of synthetic biology help make this type of research more accessible to those where funding is a limiting factor.
+</dd>
 </div></div>
 <div class="row-fluid">