abstract

Our aim in creating the iGarden was to create a framework for plant engineering using the BioBrick standard. To do so, we created a set of vectors fitting the BioBrick standard into which we place out BioBrick constructs with which we can transfer the constructs from E. coli, our assembly chassis, to the plant, our final chassis. We make this transfer via agrobacterium-mediated transformation.

The process began with the creation of desired constructs in e. coli - such as flavor elements, allergen knockdown, pigment accumulation, or fence mechanisms. We next built a set of plant vectors compatible with the BioBrick standard and moved our parts from e. coli into these vectors, which allowed us to electroporate our parts into agrobacteria. The final step was to transform arabidopsis flowers with our engineered agrobacteria and select for plants containing our designed constructs.