Team:Alberta/Software

From 2010.igem.org

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==Try It!==
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Head to [http://www.genomikon.ca GENOMIKON.ca] and start designing your own plasmids right away! Or, create an account and sign in to check out the lab manual.
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==Technology==
==Technology==
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To build our web app we implemented the following open source technologies:
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To build our web app, we implemented the following open source technologies:
*[http://rubyonrails.org/ Ruby on Rails]
*[http://rubyonrails.org/ Ruby on Rails]
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**A web server back-end that uses the Ruby programming language.  Implements a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model%E2%80%93View%E2%80%93Controller MVC] framework, and is easily customizable and extendable.
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**A web server back-end framework that uses the Ruby programming language.  Implements a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model%E2%80%93View%E2%80%93Controller MVC] architecture, and is easily customizable and extendable.
*[http://jquery.com/ jQuery]
*[http://jquery.com/ jQuery]
**A javascript library that eases user interface design.
**A javascript library that eases user interface design.
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{{Team:Alberta/beginMainContent}}
{{Team:Alberta/beginMainContent}}
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==Genomikon - Companion Software==
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==GENOMIKON ONLINE - Companion Software==
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<div id="horiz-line"></div>
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To assist students in performing their very first molecular biology experiments, we created an online, electronic lab manual to walk them through the process. At [http://www.genomikon.ca GENOMIKON.ca], users of the kit will find an electronic, interactive lab manual. Bringing the lab manual into the twenty-first century, GENOMIKON.ca compliments the kit. It will not only inform students, but also empower them to create their own experiments and share them with the world in an online, DIY molecular biology community.
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==The Lab Manual==
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===Get started with your first molecular biology experiments===
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<div id="horiz-line"></div>
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[[Image:Alberta-Screen2.png|thumb|200px|A page out of the lab manual.]]
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[[Image:Alberta-Notepic.png|thumb|Users can upload photos of their results]]
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The lab manual starts with a set of experiments of predefined experiments, selected with several criteria in mind:
 +
*Fun
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*Completable using only materials available in the kit
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*Teach concepts that inline with a high school biology curriculum
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*Extend beyond the traditional curriculum to inspire students
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We used the Province of Alberta's high school curriculum as a model.
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As the students progress through the experiments, they can take notes and even upload images of their results.
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<div style="clear:both"></div>
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==Plasmid Design Tool==
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===Design your own experimental plasmids===
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<div id="horiz-line"></div>
[[Image:Alberta-Screen1.png|200px|thumb|In silico plasmid designer]]
[[Image:Alberta-Screen1.png|200px|thumb|In silico plasmid designer]]
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Our kit is accompanied by an online web app found at [http://www.genomikon.ca genomikon.ca].  A web based lab manual is an exciting replacement to the traditional paper based variety as it is a more interactive medium.  Genomikon.ca has many interesting features designed to compliment the lab part of the kit.  We hope that it will not only be informative but also empower the students to go beyond our pre-made experiments and begin creating there own.
 
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==The Lab Manual==
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To expand the beyond the traditional "recipe in a cookbook" model of the high school science lab, students
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===Learn about the kit and synthetic biology===
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are encouraged to design their own plasmids and experiments. With GENOMIKON.ca's intuitive Plasmid Designer,
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[[Image:Alberta-Screen2.png|thumb|200px]]
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designing their own unique plasmids is as simple as dragging and dropping parts together on a screen. Students can stick together any combination of the parts available in the kit ''in silico'' with the guidance of the software to ensure certain specifications are met (ie, the plasmid has an origin of replication, it has some sort of selectable marker, incompatible ends have not been stuck together, etc).
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The lab manual is a set of experiments, selected with several criteria in mind:
+
-
*fun
+
-
*familiarize the student with the tools in the kit
+
-
*teach concepts inline with a high school biology curriculum
+
-
We used the province of Alberta's high school curriculum as a model, most high school curriculum's are somewhat similar.
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[https://2010.igem.org/Team:Alberta/PartsDesigner Learn more about the plasmid designer here]
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To see specific examples check out the [[experiments]]page.
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As the students progress through the experiments they can take notes and even upload images of their results.
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[http://www.genomikon.ca/sandbox Try the plasmid designer out for yourself right now]
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[Image:team-alberta-lab-manual-notes.jpg]
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====Software-Automated Protocol Generation====
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After students design a valid plasmid for an experiment, the software automatically generates a protocol to create that plasmid and transform into cells using only materials that are available in the kit. Afterwards, the student can add further instructions and descriptions to the experimental plan to show how the transformed cells are to be used. Then, the experimental plan can be published and let loose into the online community at GENOMIKON.ca, where other students and molecular biology experiments can try the experiment themselves.
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<div style="clear:both"></div>
==The Encyclopedia==
==The Encyclopedia==
===Develop a deeper understanding===
===Develop a deeper understanding===
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To offer some extra context to the experiments we have included a selection of articles about synthetic biology and various biology concepts relating to the kit and the high school curriculum.  They are integrated with the experiments and also available separately for review.
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<div id="horiz-line"></div>
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[Image:team-alberta-articles.jpg]
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[[Image:Alberta-Screen3.png|thumb|200px|The encyclopaedia index]]
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To offer some extra context to the experiments, we have included a selection of articles about synthetic biology and various biology concepts relating to the kit and the high school curriculum.  They are integrated with the experiments and also available separately for review.
 +
<div style="clear:both"></div>
==An Integrated Glossary==
==An Integrated Glossary==
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===A definition is never further than your pointer===
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<div id="horiz-line"></div>
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We have an integrated  glossary throughout the website for easy access to definitions
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[[Image:Alberta-Screen4.png|thumb|200px|The glossary, showing a mouse-over popup for a glossary term.]]
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[[Image:team-alberta-articles.jpg]]
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-
 
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==Plasmid Design Tool==
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===design your plasmid before you build===
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The most exciting feature of our kit is the plasmid design tool.  It has an easy to use drag and drop interface, and has built in validation to catch your errors before your build in the lab.
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Learn more about the plasmid designer [https://2010.igem.org/Team:Alberta/PartsDesigner here]
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Check out the screen cast or try it for yourself [http://www.genomikon.ca/sandbox here]
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We have an integrated glossary throughout the website for easy access to definitions. Any glossary terms that appear in the experimental protocols and descriptions can be defined by simply hovering the mouse over a term and reading the popup text.
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== ==
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<div style="clear:both"></div>
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===generate instructions and share your design===
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==Student and User Groups==
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After you create a valid plasmid you can save it and a lab protocol will automatically be created.  Then you can edit the instructions, add figures, images and a description.  Once your ready click publish and share your cool experiment for others to try.
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===Bringing the classroom online===
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<div id="horiz-line"></div>
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==Student Groups & Sharing Your Experiments==
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High school teachers can create and administer user groups and have their students join it. This brings the classroom together online, and gives teachers control over their students' online activities at GENOMIKON.ca.
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===share your experiments and communicate with your classmates===
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Teachers can create groups and have their students join it.  This allows classes to communicate with each other
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DIY Bio enthusiasts are also encouraged to create and join user groups, giving them the ability to network, communicate, and collaborate with other enthusiasts around the world.
{{Team:Alberta/endMainContent}}
{{Team:Alberta/endMainContent}}

Latest revision as of 22:42, 27 October 2010

TEAM ALBERTA

GENOMIKON ONLINE - Companion Software

To assist students in performing their very first molecular biology experiments, we created an online, electronic lab manual to walk them through the process. At [http://www.genomikon.ca GENOMIKON.ca], users of the kit will find an electronic, interactive lab manual. Bringing the lab manual into the twenty-first century, GENOMIKON.ca compliments the kit. It will not only inform students, but also empower them to create their own experiments and share them with the world in an online, DIY molecular biology community.

The Lab Manual

Get started with your first molecular biology experiments

A page out of the lab manual.
Users can upload photos of their results

The lab manual starts with a set of experiments of predefined experiments, selected with several criteria in mind:

  • Fun
  • Completable using only materials available in the kit
  • Teach concepts that inline with a high school biology curriculum
  • Extend beyond the traditional curriculum to inspire students

We used the Province of Alberta's high school curriculum as a model.

As the students progress through the experiments, they can take notes and even upload images of their results.

Plasmid Design Tool

Design your own experimental plasmids

In silico plasmid designer

To expand the beyond the traditional "recipe in a cookbook" model of the high school science lab, students are encouraged to design their own plasmids and experiments. With GENOMIKON.ca's intuitive Plasmid Designer, designing their own unique plasmids is as simple as dragging and dropping parts together on a screen. Students can stick together any combination of the parts available in the kit in silico with the guidance of the software to ensure certain specifications are met (ie, the plasmid has an origin of replication, it has some sort of selectable marker, incompatible ends have not been stuck together, etc).

Learn more about the plasmid designer here

[http://www.genomikon.ca/sandbox Try the plasmid designer out for yourself right now]

Software-Automated Protocol Generation

After students design a valid plasmid for an experiment, the software automatically generates a protocol to create that plasmid and transform into cells using only materials that are available in the kit. Afterwards, the student can add further instructions and descriptions to the experimental plan to show how the transformed cells are to be used. Then, the experimental plan can be published and let loose into the online community at GENOMIKON.ca, where other students and molecular biology experiments can try the experiment themselves.

The Encyclopedia

Develop a deeper understanding

The encyclopaedia index

To offer some extra context to the experiments, we have included a selection of articles about synthetic biology and various biology concepts relating to the kit and the high school curriculum. They are integrated with the experiments and also available separately for review.

An Integrated Glossary

The glossary, showing a mouse-over popup for a glossary term.

We have an integrated glossary throughout the website for easy access to definitions. Any glossary terms that appear in the experimental protocols and descriptions can be defined by simply hovering the mouse over a term and reading the popup text.

Student and User Groups

Bringing the classroom online

High school teachers can create and administer user groups and have their students join it. This brings the classroom together online, and gives teachers control over their students' online activities at GENOMIKON.ca.

DIY Bio enthusiasts are also encouraged to create and join user groups, giving them the ability to network, communicate, and collaborate with other enthusiasts around the world.

Retrieved from "http://2010.igem.org/Team:Alberta/Software"