Team:Warwick/Interlab

From 2014.igem.org

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<h2> Introduction </h2>
<h2> Introduction </h2>
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<p> I read the interlab study as an attempt by iGEM HQ to conduct a comparative analysis of the different methods employed by the varied and diverse teams internationally to arrive at useful data. A key problem in science is ascertaining absolute measurements; there is no point in one measuring the fluorescence of some given part, only to arrive at arbitrary units whose value for other scientists is near zero. Standards must be set, in order to embue our results with any useful meaning. Although its motivations are shrouded in mystery, I percieve the interlab study as the first step towards that ultimate goal of blanket standardisation in a synthetic biological context. </p> <br> <br>
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<p> I read the interlab study as an attempt by iGEM HQ to conduct a comparative analysis of the different methods employed by the varied and diverse teams internationally to arrive at useful data. A key problem in science is ascertaining absolute measurements; there is no point in one measuring the fluorescence of some given part, only to arrive at arbitrary units whose value for other scientists is near zero. Standards must be set, in order to embue our results with any useful meaning. Although its motivations are shrouded in mystery, I percieve the interlab study as the first step towards that ultimate goal of blanket standardisation in a synthetic biological context. </p>
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<p> It is suggested that a team conduct the interlab study as a preamble to the main event. However, we are the first example of an iGEM team at Warwick, and coalesced rather late in the day. Hence we decided just to dedicate two members of the team to pursuing it in parallel to our other endeavours, as a sort of side quest. </p> <br> <br>
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<p> It is suggested that a team conduct the interlab study as a preamble to the main event. However, we are the first example of an iGEM team at Warwick, and coalesced rather late in the day. Hence we decided just to dedicate two members of the team to pursuing it in parallel to our other endeavours, as a sort of side quest. </p>
<h2> The Brief </h2>  
<h2> The Brief </h2>  
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<p> The brief was thus: construct three given devices in plasmid format, all of which express green fluorescent protein (GFP), transfect them into E.coli and finally measure the fluorescence of these bacteria, using whatever technique you deem reasonable.
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<p> The remit of the interlab study boils down to constructing and characterising, albeit minimally, three devices. They share a lot of similarities, and the objective is obviously not to create some wacky new form of life, but to measure well characterised and well understood parts in order to measure the measuring equipment, as it were. I will quickly describe the nature of these devices. </p>
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<h4> Device 1: BBa_I20260 </h4>
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<p> This device is fully composed and readily available in Kit PLate 4 of the 2014 distribution. This is the low hanging fruit. As you can see below, it is composed of a promoter, a ribosome binding site (or RBS) a GFP gene and two terminators, one each for ending transcription and translation. </p>
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<img style = "width:20%;" class = "floatRight" src = "https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2014/6/63/Warwick_Interlab_Plates1.jpg">
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Revision as of 13:51, 28 August 2014

The Interlab Study



Introduction

I read the interlab study as an attempt by iGEM HQ to conduct a comparative analysis of the different methods employed by the varied and diverse teams internationally to arrive at useful data. A key problem in science is ascertaining absolute measurements; there is no point in one measuring the fluorescence of some given part, only to arrive at arbitrary units whose value for other scientists is near zero. Standards must be set, in order to embue our results with any useful meaning. Although its motivations are shrouded in mystery, I percieve the interlab study as the first step towards that ultimate goal of blanket standardisation in a synthetic biological context.

It is suggested that a team conduct the interlab study as a preamble to the main event. However, we are the first example of an iGEM team at Warwick, and coalesced rather late in the day. Hence we decided just to dedicate two members of the team to pursuing it in parallel to our other endeavours, as a sort of side quest.

The Brief

The remit of the interlab study boils down to constructing and characterising, albeit minimally, three devices. They share a lot of similarities, and the objective is obviously not to create some wacky new form of life, but to measure well characterised and well understood parts in order to measure the measuring equipment, as it were. I will quickly describe the nature of these devices.

Device 1: BBa_I20260

This device is fully composed and readily available in Kit PLate 4 of the 2014 distribution. This is the low hanging fruit. As you can see below, it is composed of a promoter, a ribosome binding site (or RBS) a GFP gene and two terminators, one each for ending transcription and translation.