From 2007.igem.org

About Us

Welcome to the wiki for Boston University's iGEM 2007 team!

Our team consists of David Shi, Rahul Ahuja, Christian Ling, and Danny Bellin, all soon-to-be juniors majoring in Biomedical Engineering at Boston University.

We are advised by Dr. Timothy Gardner, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering, as well as Frank Juhn and Stephen Schneider, students in the Gardner Laboratory, where we work. We are grateful to our advisors for their time and support!

We are also grateful to Pfizer for their generous support of our team.

Our Project Plan

Our project is aimed at increasing current production from Shewanella Oneidensis by directed evolution of global transcription factors.

Our plan so far:

1. Mutate global transcription factors
   1. Design primers for amplification
   2. Perform error-prone PCR
2. Transform mutated genes into E. coli
   1. Choose plasmids
   2. Restriction enzyme digestion
   3. Ligation
   4. Transformation into E. coli
3. Conjugate E. coli with Shewanella
4. Screen/select for increased current production due to mutations. Potential methods:
   1. A...ose beads and fluorocytometer
   2. Metallo-Antibiotics
   3. Perhaps we could split our collection of mutants into different groups, measure their absorbances with spectrophotometry, and assume that the sample with the lowest absorbance contains mutants producing more electricity and is therefore growing slower. We could then split this sample into different groups and repeat.

Week's Goals

Wednesday 5/30

1. Get all protocols
2. Identify materials/prepare order
3. Design Primers
4. Learn about budget/POs

Thursday 5/31

1. Do primer order
2. Start conjugation practice
3. Confirm restriction enzymes, ligases
4. Order confirmed/needed materials
5. Team Revew Meeting

Friday 6/1

1. Evaluate/continue conjugation, practice electroporation for E. coli
2. Meeting with Tim: Budgets/protocols, Pfizer/fundraising, iGEM registration, beads