Interlab Study

We participated in the Measurement Interlab Study arranged by iGEM. Here are our results.

Devices We Used

1. BBa_I20260 in pSB3K3 (sequencing data in a picture or text format)
2. BBa_K823005 + BBa_E0240 in pSB1C3 (B0032-E0040-B0015) in pSB1C3 (sequencing data in a picture or text format)
3. BBa_K823012 + BBa_E0240 (B0032-E0040-B0015) in pSB1C3 (sequencing data in a picture or text format)

Protocols

Building the Devices

We built the test devices with the same ligation protocol that we have used for all our ligations. The protocol can be found here (click).

Testing Protocol

The samples were grown in LB broth, in E. coli Top10 and they were incubated in 37 C° (shaker 220 rpm) for 17 hours. Before measuring the GFP levels, the samples were diluted to achieve the same OD₆₀₀ and 100 ul of each sample was pipetted onto a 96-well black microtiter plate. We had three samples of all three devices.

The microtiter plate was inserted in a Thermo Scientific Varioskan and the following parameters were set:

• Excitation wavelength: 470 nm
• Emission wavelength: 511 nm
• Bandwidth: 5nm
• Measurement time: 500 ms

We used BBa_K592009 (in pSB1C3, grown in Top10) in LB, and LB only as negative controls. We didn’t have a positive control for these measurements.

Results

All measurement data () is in Relative Fluorescence Units (RFU).

. Measurement data.

Interteam Cooperation

ETH Zürich

Low Budget iGEM Challenge

We did some extraordinary intercountry collaboration with ETH Zürich team. Together we participated in the Low Budget iGEM Challenge arranged by Colombia's iGEM team. With ETH Zürich we planned, carried out and reported our experiments regarding an accessible, easy and low cost PCR method. You can find our entry from here. Furthermore, we made a video describing our method in more detail. You can find the video featuring Oskari from Aalto-Helsinki and Sumana from ETH Zürich below:

We participated in the Low Budget iGEM Challenge together with ETH Zürich! Click to watch the video.

Colombia

We Skyped with Daniela from Colombia iGEM team and agreed on participating their human practices project, the Low Budget iGEM Challenge. We also discussed about her previous experiences and how they have done mathematical modeling in the previous years. This way, we could validate whether our approach to modeling was on the right track. It was very interesting to discuss about the differences in research and how it affects iGEM in Colombia. For example, ordering primers, kits or other materials takes a lot longer and it really limits the way of working there.

Minttu, Oskari and Pietu skyping to Columbia.

Paris-Saclay

Paris-Saclay was the first iGEM team we got to talk to. It was great to hear of people doing the same kind of thing, though it was also kind of intimidating with such a big group and many advisors. It seemed like we'd need more knowledge to pull this off. Being a Finnish team, we appropriately Skyped from a sauna-themed meeting room! We did wear clothes, though.

We got a lot of good tips about where to start, what to focus on and what to expect at Jamboree. They were doing bio art, so we contacted Aalto University's Biofilia (a biological art unit under the Aalto ARTS) for them. Biofilia were very interested in talking with the Paris-Saclay team about their "Ceci n'est pas un citron" project.

This is how Paris Saclay's team saw us during the Skype call. Image courtesy of Paris Saclay 2014 team.

Virginia

We participated in Virginia iGEM team's survey regarding synthetic biology. It was easier said than done, however. We wandered around Helsinki city centre looking for volunteers with time to answer the survey and offered buns and coffee as an exchange for their time. After a long day we finally reached over 20 responses!

This is the well deserved badge we received for reaching over 20 entries on Virginia's survey!

Amsterdam 2012

We were contacted by Tania Quirin via Facebook. She's from Amsterdam 2012 iGEM team and she's doing her PhD at University of Helsinki. We met Tania several times and got very valuable feedback about our work and presentation but also reflected our experiences to theirs.

Tania has been encouraging and supporting our team in so many ways and even came to see us on Summer of Startups Demo Day. She was the first iGEM alumna we actually met. She also connected us with iGEM-winning Groningen 2012 team's Arjan.

Groningen 2012

We had a long Skype call with Arjan Oldebesten from iGEM-winning Groningen 2012. We were very excited for this opportunity to hear about full scale iGEM experience including world championship Jamboree.

Trying to understand the factors for successful iGEM project, we discovered that success in iGEM does not require a huge amount of experience, top-notch facilities nor a mentor constantly guiding the team and its progress. They had a fairly simple, yet very interesting idea and they worked they way from bottom to top. They got the attitude, the hard work and the necessary support.

Based on these conversations, we think success in iGEM can be within our reach, too, even though we are the first Finnish team participating in iGEM! In fact, we believe that being the first team makes us look for advice from all over the world and brings a truly international feeling to the project.