Difference between revisions of "Team:Slovenia HS/old"
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+ | <meta charset="utf-8"> | ||
+ | <title>The HTML5 Herald</title> | ||
+ | <meta name="description" content="The HTML5 Herald"> | ||
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− | < | + | <table |
− | style="" lang="EN-US">We are the first high school | + | style="font-weight: bold; height: 229px; text-align: left; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 960px;" |
− | team from Slovenia | + | border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"> |
+ | <tbody> | ||
+ | <tr align="center"> | ||
+ | <td style="width: 900px;" colspan="2" rowspan="1"> | ||
+ | <h1>Welcome to Slovenia HS's team Wiki!</h1> | ||
+ | </td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | <tr align="center"> | ||
+ | <td style="width: 900px;" colspan="2" rowspan="1"><img | ||
+ | style="width: 809px; height: 243px;" alt="" | ||
+ | src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/9/97/Team_slovenia.jpg"><br> | ||
+ | </td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | <tr> | ||
+ | <td style="width: 900px;"> | ||
+ | <h2 style="font-weight: bold;"><span | ||
+ | style="font-weight: normal;" lang="EN-US"><span | ||
+ | style="font-weight: bold;">ABOUT</span> <span | ||
+ | style="font-weight: bold;">US</span></span></h2> | ||
+ | <p><span style="font-weight: normal;" lang="EN-US">We | ||
+ | are the first high school team from Slovenia | ||
to compete at iGEM and are very excited to face the challenges | to compete at iGEM and are very excited to face the challenges | ||
synthetic | synthetic | ||
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Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana | Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana | ||
under | under | ||
− | supervision of knowledgeable and encouraging mentors.< | + | supervision of knowledgeable and encouraging mentors.</span></p> |
− | <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span | + | <p><span style="font-weight: normal;" lang="EN-US"> |
− | style="" lang="EN-US">We have decided to tackle a | + | </span></p> |
+ | <span style="" lang="EN-US"></span> | ||
+ | <div style="text-align: center;"><a | ||
+ | href="http://www.ki.si/index.php?id=117&L=1"><img | ||
+ | style="border: 0px solid ; width: 136px; height: 75px;" alt="" | ||
+ | src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/2d314a_1e567e0e2c9f45fbb96495795f079aee.jpg_srz_p_136_75_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srz"></a> | ||
+ | <a | ||
+ | href="http://www.fkkt.uni-lj.si/en/about/"><img | ||
+ | style="border: 0px solid ; width: 329px; height: 75px;" alt="" | ||
+ | src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/2d314a_a08454eff46f47b9916e6a661a749176.png_srz_p_329_75_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_png_srz"></a> | ||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | </td> | ||
+ | <td> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <p><img style="width: 235px; height: 221px;" | ||
+ | src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/2d314a_d4932ef138fc4cc5852d9b14e690b06f.png_srz_p_267_252_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_png_srz"></p> | ||
+ | </td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | <tr> | ||
+ | <td style="width: 900px;" colspan="2" rowspan="1"> | ||
+ | <h2><span | ||
+ | style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-weight: normal;" | ||
+ | lang="EN-US"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">WHAT | ||
+ | WE DO</span></h2> | ||
+ | <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span | ||
+ | style="" lang="EN-US"><span | ||
+ | style="font-weight: normal;">We have decided to tackle a | ||
very imposing | very imposing | ||
ecological problem that is becoming more and more threatening due to | ecological problem that is becoming more and more threatening due to | ||
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have enough oil for the next 40 years, so it is becoming increasingly | have enough oil for the next 40 years, so it is becoming increasingly | ||
necessary | necessary | ||
− | to find an alternative method of obtaining fuels.<o:p></o:p></span></p> | + | to find an alternative method of obtaining fuels.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> |
− | <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span | + | <p class="MsoNormal" |
+ | style="text-align: justify; font-weight: normal;"><span | ||
style="" lang="EN-US">After a thorough discussion and | style="" lang="EN-US">After a thorough discussion and | ||
literature | literature | ||
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existing diesel engines without considerable modifications of the motor | existing diesel engines without considerable modifications of the motor | ||
system).<o:p></o:p></span></p> | system).<o:p></o:p></span></p> | ||
− | <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span | + | <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span |
− | style="" lang="EN-US">In nature, many organisms have | + | style="" lang="EN-US"><span |
+ | style="font-weight: normal;">In nature, many organisms have | ||
been proven to | been proven to | ||
be able to produce butanol (n-butanol or 1-butanol) by converting | be able to produce butanol (n-butanol or 1-butanol) by converting | ||
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acids and then converting acids into alcohols. This organisms, mostly | acids and then converting acids into alcohols. This organisms, mostly | ||
bacteria | bacteria | ||
− | of the <i style="">Clostridium</i> genus (<i | + | of the </span><i style="font-weight: normal;">Clostridium</i><span |
− | style="">Clostridium acetobutylicum</i>, <i | + | style="font-weight: normal;"> genus (</span><i |
− | style="">Clostridium beijerinckii</i> and <i | + | style="font-weight: normal;">Clostridium acetobutylicum</i><span |
− | style="">Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum</i>), | + | style="font-weight: normal;">, </span><i |
+ | style="font-weight: normal;">Clostridium beijerinckii</i><span | ||
+ | style="font-weight: normal;"> and </span><i | ||
+ | style="font-weight: normal;">Clostridium | ||
+ | saccharoperbutylacetonicum</i><span | ||
+ | style="font-weight: normal;">), | ||
however, have complex metabolism, slow conversion rate and are often | however, have complex metabolism, slow conversion rate and are often | ||
hard to | hard to | ||
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easy to | easy to | ||
grow and cultivate, making them the perfect laboratory and industrial | grow and cultivate, making them the perfect laboratory and industrial | ||
− | organisms.<o:p></o:p></span></p> | + | organisms.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> |
− | <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span | + | <p class="MsoNormal" |
+ | style="text-align: justify; font-weight: normal;"><span | ||
style="" lang="EN-US">We have sought help from the | style="" lang="EN-US">We have sought help from the | ||
Laboratory for Environmental | Laboratory for Environmental | ||
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concentration and | concentration and | ||
decanting processes.<o:p></o:p></span></p> | decanting processes.<o:p></o:p></span></p> | ||
− | <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span | + | <p class="MsoNormal" |
+ | style="text-align: justify; font-weight: normal;"><span | ||
style="" lang="EN-US">That’s why we have | style="" lang="EN-US">That’s why we have | ||
set on the path to modify | set on the path to modify | ||
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be using glycerol as a co-substrate, which can be readily obtained in a | be using glycerol as a co-substrate, which can be readily obtained in a | ||
suitable form as a side product of biodiesel production processes.<o:p></o:p></span></p> | suitable form as a side product of biodiesel production processes.<o:p></o:p></span></p> | ||
− | <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span | + | <p class="MsoNormal" |
+ | style="text-align: justify; font-weight: normal;"><span | ||
style="" lang="EN-US">We will thus genetically | style="" lang="EN-US">We will thus genetically | ||
manipulate the <i style="">E. coli</i> bacteria | manipulate the <i style="">E. coli</i> bacteria | ||
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possible yields with our genetically modified in an optimized | possible yields with our genetically modified in an optimized | ||
bioreactor system.<o:p></o:p></span></p> | bioreactor system.<o:p></o:p></span></p> | ||
− | <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span | + | <p class="MsoNormal" |
+ | style="text-align: justify; font-weight: normal;"><span | ||
style="" lang="EN-US">In the first stage the biogas (H<sub>2</sub>) | style="" lang="EN-US">In the first stage the biogas (H<sub>2</sub>) | ||
will be isolated out of organic waste and suspended solids will be | will be isolated out of organic waste and suspended solids will be | ||
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converted into | converted into | ||
bio-butanol.<o:p></o:p></span></p> | bio-butanol.<o:p></o:p></span></p> | ||
− | <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span | + | <p class="MsoNormal" |
+ | style="text-align: justify; font-weight: normal;"><span | ||
style="" lang="EN-US">Up to now, we have cloned three | style="" lang="EN-US">Up to now, we have cloned three | ||
genes coding | genes coding | ||
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allow for | allow for | ||
expression of these genes in E. coli.<o:p></o:p></span></p> | expression of these genes in E. coli.<o:p></o:p></span></p> | ||
− | <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span | + | <p class="MsoNormal" |
+ | style="text-align: justify; font-weight: normal;"><span | ||
style="" lang="EN-US">In the biotechnological | style="" lang="EN-US">In the biotechnological | ||
laboratory we have | laboratory we have | ||
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and provide proof of concept for the said fermentation in a bench-scale | and provide proof of concept for the said fermentation in a bench-scale | ||
laboratory bioreactor.<o:p></o:p></span></p> | laboratory bioreactor.<o:p></o:p></span></p> | ||
− | <p | + | <p style="font-weight: normal;"><span |
− | style="" lang="EN-US">We are also looking for other | + | style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";" |
− | teams with | + | lang="EN-US">We are also looking for other teams with |
− | similar projects for possible collaborations, so if you are interested, | + | similar |
− | we | + | projects for possible collaborations, so if you are interested, we |
− | encourage you to contact us!< | + | encourage |
+ | you to contact us!</span></p> | ||
+ | </td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | <tr> | ||
+ | <td style="width: 900px;" colspan="2" rowspan="1"> | ||
+ | <h1></h1> | ||
+ | <h1></h1> | ||
+ | </td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | </tbody> | ||
+ | </table> | ||
+ | <h1><br style="font-weight: bold;"> | ||
+ | </h1> | ||
+ | <script src="js/scripts.js"></script> | ||
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Revision as of 19:00, 14 July 2015
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
Welcome to Slovenia HS's team Wiki! |
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ABOUT USWe are the first high school team from Slovenia to compete at iGEM and are very excited to face the challenges synthetic biology poses. The team is composed of eight high school students attending seven different secondary educational institutions across Slovenia. Our research is performed at the Laboratory for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenia and at the Chair of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana under supervision of knowledgeable and encouraging mentors.
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WHAT WE DOWe have decided to tackle a
very imposing
ecological problem that is becoming more and more threatening due to
fossil fuel
depletion and a steady growth of energy consumption. Fossil fuels, such
as oil
and gasoline, have gained popularity in the beginning of the 20th
century,
following the industrial revolution. It is estimated that we have spent
between
100 and 135 billion tons of oil since 1850 and the demands are still
increasing. Fossil fuels are used in cars, airplanes and other
vehicles, to
power electricity plants, to heat our homes and to make many everyday
products,
such as medicines, cosmetics, plastics and synthetic fabrics. Our
society is
largely dependent on them, but fossil fuels take millions of years to
form and
are therefore non-renewable resources. According to some projections,
we only
have enough oil for the next 40 years, so it is becoming increasingly
necessary
to find an alternative method of obtaining fuels. After a thorough discussion and
literature
survey, we have thus decided to make use of butanol. Research has
already shown
that because of its long chain and consequent nonpolarity, butanol can,
amongst
other uses, replace gasoline in internal combustion engines (it can be
used in
existing diesel engines without considerable modifications of the motor
system). In nature, many organisms have
been proven to
be able to produce butanol (n-butanol or 1-butanol) by converting
glucose into
acids and then converting acids into alcohols. This organisms, mostly
bacteria
of the Clostridium genus (Clostridium acetobutylicum, Clostridium beijerinckii and Clostridium
saccharoperbutylacetonicum),
however, have complex metabolism, slow conversion rate and are often
hard to
grow in laboratories or for industrious use. For these and other
reasons, they
are unsuitable for larger butanol production. On the other hand,
bacteria E.
coli have relatively simple and strikingly fast metabolism, already
researched
and utilized mechanisms for genetic manipulation and are relatively
easy to
grow and cultivate, making them the perfect laboratory and industrial
organisms. We have sought help from the
Laboratory for Environmental
Sciences and Engineering at the National Institute of Chemistry in
Ljubljana,
as they have been engaged in advancing processes that enable conversion
of
waste and other renewable raw materials into energy (e.g. biogas to
syngas
transformation, bio-oil production through pyrolysis of waste etc.) for
a long
time now, and have recently also developed a process for the
biotechnological conversion
of biodegradable waste into hydrogen by means of anaerobic mixed
cultures grown
at special fermentation conditions. During this process a series of
intermediate products is produced, amongst others are high
concentrations of butanoic
acid. We had the idea of turning this organic acid into butanol, which
is
hydrophobic and can be separated from water medium by basic
concentration and
decanting processes. That’s why we have
set on the path to modify
the E. coli in such a way, to
enable
transformation of butanoic acid to butanol. To aid in the process, we
will also
be using glycerol as a co-substrate, which can be readily obtained in a
suitable form as a side product of biodiesel production processes. We will thus genetically
manipulate the E. coli bacteria
into performing only
the second phase of butanol production found in Clostridium bacteria
(acids to
alcohols conversion). By using biodegradable waste as substrate we
intend to
fully make use of all of the components involved in this processes
(anaerobic
microbial production of hydrogen), while subsequently (E.
coli fermentation process) also producing the much-needed
biofuel, thus enabling a simultaneous efficient and eco-friendly waste
management and energy production process. Our aim is to achieve the
highest
possible yields with our genetically modified in an optimized
bioreactor system. In the first stage the biogas (H2)
will be isolated out of organic waste and suspended solids will be
produced
which may be used as a natural fertilizer. At the same time the
butanoic acid
formed will be redirected in another bioreactor (containing our
modified E. coli) where it will be
converted into
bio-butanol. Up to now, we have cloned three
genes coding
for CTFA, CTFB and BDHB proteins (in PSB1C3 vector), that are
responsible for
butyrate aldehyde to butanol in Clostridium
acetobutylicum. We further intend to make composite
constructs to include
this genes in vectors with promotors and ribosomal binding sites to
allow for
expression of these genes in E. coli. In the biotechnological
laboratory we have
performed an initial screening of growth conditions, such as butanoic
acid
concentration and butanoic acid / glycerol molar ratio, as well as
comparing
the growth in the presence and absence of oxygen. We are working with
two
negative controls, (i) E. coli
strain
Dh5 alpha and E. coli strain Dh5 alpha with PSB1C3 plasmid containing
only the
promotor and the ribosomal binding sites (i.e. with no genes included),
to
provide proof E. coli does not inherently convert butyric acid into
butanol. We
intend to perform similar tests with our final microorganism
– modified E. coli
and provide proof of concept for the said fermentation in a bench-scale
laboratory bioreactor. We are also looking for other teams with similar projects for possible collaborations, so if you are interested, we encourage you to contact us! |
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