Team:Tufts

From 2014.igem.org

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Revision as of 20:37, 17 October 2014

Tufts University

Tufts iGEM seeks to expand undergraduate science education and allow students to take part in all aspects of the research process, from drafting proposals, to securing funding, and finally carrying out the research in lab. These projects expose students not only to the technical aspects of synthetic biology but also to the social, legal, and ethical implications generated by their work. The team is composed of passionate individuals from all fields of study, who are driven to investigate and address pertinent issues in medicine, health, technology, research, and bioethics. In addition to carrying out undergraduate, self-directed research, the Tufts iGEM team teaches and mentors underclassmen, develops relationships with professors, and generally works to promote the involvement of undergraduates in biological research.

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-          A long, noncoding massively expressed regulatory RNA (merRNA) discovered in Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus is present in high levels during its dormant phase. The merRNA is believed to sequester cyclic-di-GMP, much like a sponge. Since cyclic-di-GMP is a second messenger for various cellular functions, including motility and biofilm formation, the Tufts iGEM team introduced this merRNA sequence into E. coli. Constitutive expression of this merRNA transcript was shown to increase biofilm formation. This property can be useful in microbe-based approaches to environmental remediation. Earlier designs for phage delivery of the merRNA to disrupt biofilms inspired an investigation into the policy surrounding engineered bacteriophage. Tufts iGEM will be convening a panel of experts from various disciplines to put forth recommendations for the responsible use of phage in therapeutic and industrial applications. A proposal will be drafted for a silk bandage containing a phage cocktail which can prevent and treat infection by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
+         Tufts iGEM seeks to expand undergraduate science education and allow students to take part in all aspects of the research process, from drafting proposals, to securing funding, and finally carrying out the research in lab. These projects expose students not only to the technical aspects of synthetic biology but also to the social, legal, and ethical implications generated by their work. The team is composed of passionate individuals from all fields of study, who are driven to investigate and address pertinent issues in medicine, health, technology, research, and bioethics. In addition to carrying out undergraduate, self-directed research, the Tufts iGEM team teaches and mentors underclassmen, develops relationships with professors, and generally works to promote the involvement of undergraduates in biological research.
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