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From 2014.igem.org

E.co-Lock

The way we live today has been deeply revolutionized through rapid developments of low-cost drugs, novel chemicals and clean energies by various newly engineered microorganisms. However, the problem of high risks of potential ecological contamination and accidental commercial loss continues threatening the scientists, industrialists and the public as synthetic biology makes progress. Can the important strains be genetically locked up in the molecular level even when their physical lock boxes are broken up? The 2014 project of BIT-China, E.co-Lock, focused on the bio-security and bio-economy of all engineered microorganisms, is novelly designed to meet this challenge.

Layered AND Gates, sRNA regulatory System and Min System are the three main parts to build up the E.co-Lock. The layered logic AND gates are constructed and connected to realize different combinations of "the password" - here three different inducers. The sRNA regulation system is then implemented to control the order of the "password" by inhibiting the mRNAs built in the layered AND gates, thus to precisely mimic the password of a real digital lock. Currently, a three-inducer-password is built up and ideally in the future, many more layers of AND gates containing new inducers with newly synthesized sRNAs could be added up to increase the complexity of the password. Finally, Min system, representing a cell division inhibiting system, is re-designed to maintain industrial strains to an extremely low density given an initial locked state. In the future, other similar systems can be introduced to replace Min system to fulfill this function of inhibiting cell division. Therefore, commercially valuable or potentially hazardous strains will be under much more strict control with different customized E.co-Locks.

Thus, when genetically locked up with E.co-Lock, important industrial strains or dangerous strains will be under better protection from suffering loss, even at the occasions of unexpected leaking out or stolen, only when right password is put in, when suitable inducers are added in set order, strains can multiply properly. Much better safety of microorganism can be achieved both ecologically and commercially.

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We are currently working on providing teams with some easy to use design templates. In the meantime you can also view other team wikis for inspiration! Here are some very good examples 2013 SDU Denmark 2013 SYSU China 2013 Shenxhen BGIG ATCG 2013 Colombia Unianades 2013 Lethbridge For a full wiki list, you can visit iGEM 2013 web sites and iGEM 2012 web sites lists.		This wiki will be your team’s first interaction with the rest of the world, so here are a few tips to help you get started: State your accomplishments! Tell people what you have achieved from the start. Be clear about what you are doing and what you plan to do. You have a global audience! Consider the different backgrounds that your users come from. Make sure information is easy to find; nothing should be more than 3 clicks away. Avoid using very small fonts and low contrast colors; information should be easy to read. Start documenting your project as early as possible; don’t leave anything to the last minute before the Wiki Freeze. For a complete list of deadlines visit the iGEM 2013 calendar Have lots of fun!