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Team:Osaka/Project
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Desertification all over the world causes famine, drought and suffering. We aim to develop micro-machines that can stop and even reverse desertification by recovering vegetation in these areas. | Desertification all over the world causes famine, drought and suffering. We aim to develop micro-machines that can stop and even reverse desertification by recovering vegetation in these areas. | ||
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<h3>Objectives</h3> | <h3>Objectives</h3> | ||
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<li>To feasibility of designing and implementing a cyclic biological system</li> | <li>To feasibility of designing and implementing a cyclic biological system</li> | ||
<li>To contribute to iGEM and Synthetic Biology by developing and characterizing new parts</li> | <li>To contribute to iGEM and Synthetic Biology by developing and characterizing new parts</li> | ||
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Revision as of 04:06, 27 October 2010
Project: The Continuous Greening Cycle
Introduction
Desertification all over the world causes famine, drought and suffering. We aim to develop micro-machines that can stop and even reverse desertification by recovering vegetation in these areas.
Objectives
We had 3 objectives in mind when planning this project:
- To address environmental issue of desertification
- To feasibility of designing and implementing a cyclic biological system
- To contribute to iGEM and Synthetic Biology by developing and characterizing new parts
The Cycle
We envisioned a Continuous Greening Cycle in which engineered microorganisms decompose plant fibers into nutrients through the action of cellulolytic enzymes. They then produce water-holding polymers such as poly(gamma-glutamic) acid that retain water in the soil to help plants grow. When the plants die they will be decomposed to start the cycle anew.
Cellulose degradation
Polyglutamic acid (PGA) synthesis
Gamma polyglutamic acidConstruction of the parts for cellulose degradation and PGA synthesis outlined above formed the majority of our wet lab work. We produced a collection of new BioBricks by PCR from existing plasmids or genome DNA, and also made some constructs to test the new parts. For more info, please see Parts.
Tests
We ran several tests to confirm the working of our parts, as well as characterize them quantitatively. See the Tests page for more info.
Modeling
We also attempted to construct a model and simulate it using software in order to determine the feasibility of the cycle as well as identify important parameters involved. See the Modeling page for more info.
