Community Outreach
In order to reach out to the local children, we prepared presentations about our projects for The Cooper Union Summer STEM iGEM children! YAY!
Line 41: | Line 41: | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
- | + | <div class="text"> | |
<!-----Add content below----> | <!-----Add content below----> | ||
+ | <br><h1><div class="center">Community Outreach</div></h1><br> | ||
+ | In order to reach out to the local children, we prepared presentations about our projects for The Cooper Union Summer STEM iGEM children! YAY! | ||
+ | <br><br> | ||
+ | <hr> | ||
+ | <h2>De novo Synthesizer</h2> | ||
+ | For De Novo Synthesizer project, we presented a brief introduction to our research, which is about creating a novel microfluidic platform for DNA synthesis that allows people to synthesize a personalized strand of DNA in lab without use of a template strand. Along with the timelines of experiments and research process, we also provided with background information about enzyme kinetics and activities. To help them understand the concepts better, we let them to mimic enzymatic activities by transferring small candies to a different container. Using different tools and methods that aids or prevents transferring, students were able to understand the concepts of enzyme kinematics including the characteristics of enzyme, conformational changes, and influence of inhibitors and activators. Students actively participated, came up with novel ideas of possible conformational changes, and asked interesting questions. | ||
+ | <center><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2014/0/05/Cooper_Union_Outreach_Denovo_01.jpeg" alt="De Novo Synthesizer Team Presentation" width = 550/></center> | ||
- | |||
- | |||
- | |||
- | |||
- | |||
- | |||
- | |||
- | |||
- | |||
- | |||
- | |||
- | |||
- | |||
- | |||
- | |||
- | |||
<br><br><br> | <br><br><br> | ||
<hr> | <hr> | ||
- | |||
- | |||
- | |||
+ | <br><br><h2>Programmable Lifespan Timer</h2> | ||
+ | The Programmable Lifespan Timer project aims to create a “kill switch" for cells used in production. In the case that these cells leave the lab environment, they will die after a set amount of time, preventing the release of unwanted chemicals into the environment, or mating with wild type organisms. | ||
+ | In our presentation to the Cooper Union Summer STEM students, we explained the significance of telomeres and telomerase in yeast, as well as our experimentation in gene deletion. Our activity incorporated Twizzlers, which represented various telomere lengths. The "telomeres" had different lengths due to different gene knockouts. The intention of the activity was to convey the idea that chromatids with longer telomeres would live longer in comparison to those with shorter telomeres. | ||
- | + | We also discussed senescence in yeast cells in the absence of telomerase, and described how the cells could recover with a backup mechanism called homologous recombination. A growth curve showing the cell density of yeast as it underwent senescence over time was displayed. We wrapped up the presentation with a fun word search that reinforced main ideas. | |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
<br><br><br> | <br><br><br> | ||
<center> <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2014/3/3b/Cooper_Union_Outreach_Lifespan_01.jpg" alt="Programmable Lifespan Timer Team Presentation" height="500" width="700"></center> | <center> <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2014/3/3b/Cooper_Union_Outreach_Lifespan_01.jpg" alt="Programmable Lifespan Timer Team Presentation" height="500" width="700"></center> | ||
Line 101: | Line 73: | ||
DO NOT EDIT BELOW HERE | DO NOT EDIT BELOW HERE | ||
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx --> | xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx --> | ||
+ | </div> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
<br> | <br> |