Team:GeorgiaTech/Systems Modeling
From 2010.igem.org
AOX pathway is responsible for thermogenesis in various organisms. But to what extent it would be responsible for heat production in genetically engineered bacteria remains an interesting question. Georgia Tech modeling team aimed at theorizing an answer to this question using both analytical and computational methods. The primary goal was to suggest a calorimetric technique with optimal sensitivity, as well as to compare heat transfer in liquid culture and bacterial colonies. |
The following models were devised: I. Rate of heat production via AOX pathway II. Heat transfer in liquid culture III. Heat transfer in bacterial colony (analytical solution 1D) IV. Heat transfer in bacterial colony (computational solution 2D and 3D) I) Calculations for rate of heat production in E. coli:
II) Heat transfer in liquid culture:
1.Liquid solution can be assumed water
III) Heat transfer in bacterial colony (analytical solution) The following information was also known:
3) We solved for boundary conditions by solving two temperature profile equations simultaneously in MATLAB IV) Heat transport in bacterial colony 2D and 3D (using COMSOL) Figure 2. Figure 3. Figure 2 and 3 were developed in COMSOL. They depict 2D and 3D heat transfer in bacterial colony and agarose. The difference between peak temperatures in both scenarios did not differ by more than 0.006K which indicates that a 2D control volume may provide sufficiently accurate representation for heat transport modeling. In a 2D control volume, heat is transferred radially to the environment. If high aspect ratio is implemented, as in case of a uniform stretch of bacterial colony formed on a petri dish, then 1D control volume will be sufficient. V) Conclusions:
|