Team:Michigan Software/Project

From 2014.igem.org

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==Aims==
==Aims==
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The aims of this project were threefold:
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<ul>
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<li> To start an iGEM software team at the University of Michigan and populate it with a diverse population of students. </li>
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<li> To construct useful software for laboratory scientists. We designed the protocol database project based on our own and other's frustrations in identifying reliable and effective scientific protocols. </li>
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<li> To use our basic project idea to survey a wide range of scientific students and professionals to determine exactly what the best iteration of this project would do and adapt our goals as such. </li>
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==Methods==
==Methods==
Django package for Python
Django package for Python

Revision as of 01:06, 16 October 2014

Michigan Software

Contents

Description

Choosing reliable protocols for new experiments is a problem laboratories routinely face. Even when drawing from research publications, it is difficult to determine which protocols will produce the best results. Experimental practices differ immensely across laboratories, and precise details of these practices may be lost or forgotten as skilled members leave the lab. These two realities give rise to a vast number of experimental protocols without their original curators around to describe them. Furthermore, no tool yet exists to allow wet lab investigators to measure and compare the efficacy of protocols before executing them.


Such fragmentation in protocol methods and their documentation often hampers scientific progress. Indeed, there are few well-defined protocols that are generally agreed upon by the scientific community, in part due to the lack of a system that measures a protocol’s success. In turn, the lack of commonly accepted protocols and inadequate documentation affects experimental reproducibility through method inconsistencies across laboratories.


To attempt to address these problems, we set out to build a database that integrates a crowdsourced ratings and comments system to clearly document, rate, elaborate, review, and organize variants of experimental protocols. Such a tool serves as a curator for protocol variants and enables investigators to compare protocol efficacies, acceptance via crowdsourced ratings and provides an avenue for transfer of experiential knowledge through protocol comments. In all, we hope these tools will help students and investigators document, organize, and compare protocols to assist with scientific experimentation.


Aims

The aims of this project were threefold:

  • To start an iGEM software team at the University of Michigan and populate it with a diverse population of students.
  • To construct useful software for laboratory scientists. We designed the protocol database project based on our own and other's frustrations in identifying reliable and effective scientific protocols.
  • To use our basic project idea to survey a wide range of scientific students and professionals to determine exactly what the best iteration of this project would do and adapt our goals as such.
  • Methods

    Django package for Python

    SQLite

    Concept map.png

    Success

    Future Directions

    contact info: igemsoftware-requests@umich.edu.