Team:Cornell/project/background

From 2013.igem.org

(Difference between revisions)

Revision as of 16:59, 27 September 2013

Cornell University Genetically Engineered Machines

Background Information

Cornell iGEM is developing a toolkit of genetic parts for engineering complex fungi, particularly plant-pathogenic basidiomycetes. We were inspired to do so by a local company, Ecovative Design, that uses lignin-degrading fungi and plant matter to produce a biodegradable Styrofoam substitute. Upon consulting the company on their production process, we found that their production efficiency suffered due to contamination from pathogenic molds, which inhibits the growth of the desired fungus and compromises entire batches of material. We recognized that this problem could be solved with a very rudimentary genetic circuit that confers resistance to specific mold species, but that both industry and academia largely lack standardized fundamental tools for engineering fungi. We seek to empower Ecovative and other organizations to use fungi to develop sustainable technologies.

@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 			</div>
 <br>
-Our current project involves fungal genetic engineering, an underexplored area of research, with specific applications in biomaterials development. Fungal biomaterials offer the potential to create a wide range of environmentally sustainable, useful products, as evidenced by Ecovative Design, a company in upstate New York that uses this technology to create packaging materials that serve as a Styrofoam substitute. Reducing or eliminating Styrofoam waste could have a huge positive impact on the environment – efforts are already being made to recycle Styrofoam, design alternatives, and reduce its use in large cities. Our interactions with Ecovative have revealed a need for genetic tools to improve the efficiency of the production process and further enhance the material properties of the product. To this end, we are working to develop a toolkit of modular genetic constructs for modifying basidiomycetes, using the medically-relevant, filamentous fungus Ganoderma lucidum as a model organism. In addition to creating a library of tools for fungal genetic modification, we are developing constructs for the production of antifungal agents targeting specific mold pathogens, as well as pigments from the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway in E. coli. This work is groundbreaking in our efforts to engineer a complex, basidiomycotic fungus and to work in direct partnership with a corporate partner.
+Cornell iGEM is developing a toolkit of genetic parts for engineering complex fungi, particularly plant-pathogenic basidiomycetes. We were inspired to do so by a local company, <a href=”http://www.ecovativedesign.com/”>Ecovative Design</a>, that uses lignin-degrading fungi and plant matter to produce a biodegradable Styrofoam substitute. Upon consulting the company on their production process, we found that their production efficiency suffered due to contamination from pathogenic molds, which inhibits the growth of the desired fungus and compromises entire batches of material. We recognized that this problem could be solved with a very rudimentary genetic circuit that confers resistance to specific mold species, but that both industry and academia largely lack standardized fundamental tools for engineering fungi. We seek to empower Ecovative and other organizations to use fungi to develop sustainable technologies.
 		</div>
 	</div>
 	</body>
 </html>