Team:Dundee/HumanPractice/CaseStudy

From 2013.igem.org

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           <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>
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           <p><b><em>ToxiMop tackles a local problem. Many open waters located in and around Dundee are affected by Blue-Green Algae.</b></em> This was one motivation that made selecting our project appropriate because of this local issue that also has worldwide implications.</p><br>
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         <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>
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         <p><b><em>Blue-Green Algae has affected Clatto Country Park.</em></b> This is one of many locations in Dundee where Blue-Green Algae has had a dramatic affect. 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. All these attractions are focussed around the parks freshwater reservoir and surrounding woods.</p><br>
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           <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>
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           <p><b><em>ToxiMop is a prototype device to help restore open waters.</b></em> Moving forward in time, with the Blue-Green Algae problems faced by Clatto each year, recreational swimming is no longer permitted in the reservoir. This has shutdown the watersports programme and the signage to warn people of the danger, faced by the water, has had such a dramatic effect that it has reduced the number of visitors per year to less than 30,000. This reduction in visitors has led to the closure of staffing facilities, which in turn has had social and economic implications for the immediate community. Clatto Country Park is now a shadow of its former glory.</p><br>
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           <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>
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           <p>em><b>MOP campaign raised awareness that testing and regulations may be inappropriate.</b></em> We have been working with George Potts, Senior Countryside Ranger, who has been involved at Clatto for over 40 years. We believed that the testing procedures at Clatto were insufficient to demand the closure of recreational activities on the reservoir and so started a Political Campaign based on this grounding.</p><br>
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           <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>
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           <p><b><em>The Moptopus can allow daily samples to be taken.</b></em> Currently sampling is carried out once a month. When a high number of cyanobacteria cells is detected this is regarded as a failed test. Three clean tests are then required to give the all clear to the reservoir. Therefore during the summer, once high levels of cyanobacteria cells are detected, the reservoir is closed for 3 months minimum. Using synthetic biology our ToxiMop project has the potential to return locations like Clatto back to popular venues for future generations.</p><br>
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          <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>
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Revision as of 17:08, 28 August 2013

iGEM Dundee 2013 · ToxiMop

ToxiMop tackles a local problem. Many open waters located in and around Dundee are affected by Blue-Green Algae. This was one motivation that made selecting our project appropriate because of this local issue that also has worldwide implications.


Blue-Green Algae has affected Clatto Country Park. This is one of many locations in Dundee where Blue-Green Algae has had a dramatic affect. 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. All these attractions are focussed around the parks freshwater reservoir and surrounding woods.


ToxiMop is a prototype device to help restore open waters. Moving forward in time, with the Blue-Green Algae problems faced by Clatto each year, recreational swimming is no longer permitted in the reservoir. This has shutdown the watersports programme and the signage to warn people of the danger, faced by the water, has had such a dramatic effect that it has reduced the number of visitors per year to less than 30,000. This reduction in visitors has led to the closure of staffing facilities, which in turn has had social and economic implications for the immediate community. Clatto Country Park is now a shadow of its former glory.


em>MOP campaign raised awareness that testing and regulations may be inappropriate. We have been working with George Potts, Senior Countryside Ranger, who has been involved at Clatto for over 40 years. We believed that the testing procedures at Clatto were insufficient to demand the closure of recreational activities on the reservoir and so started a Political Campaign based on this grounding.


The Moptopus can allow daily samples to be taken. Currently sampling is carried out once a month. When a high number of cyanobacteria cells is detected this is regarded as a failed test. Three clean tests are then required to give the all clear to the reservoir. Therefore during the summer, once high levels of cyanobacteria cells are detected, the reservoir is closed for 3 months minimum. Using synthetic biology our ToxiMop project has the potential to return locations like Clatto back to popular venues for future generations.