Difference between revisions of "Team:HKUST-Rice/Practices"

 
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<h1>Introduction</h1>
 
<h1>Introduction</h1>
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<p>This year, our human practices project focused on public perception. Although the technical aspects of synthetic biology are important, spanning controversies on sociotechnical implications, biosecurity & biosafety concerns, ethics and fundamental questions about what applications of synthetic biology would advance societal goals and be considered sustainable should not be ignored. There are three impressions on synthetic biology, which bring us much concerns. People think synthetic biology is complex, risky and uncertain. We adopt a problem-solving approach in dealing with complexity i.e. debating; and an issue-based approach in dealing with risk and uncertainty.</p>
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<p>This human practices project focuses on public perceptions of synthetic biology applications and their ethical implications. Several significant concerns arise regarding ethics and biosafety, especially the biohazard potential of the applications of synthetic biology.  These can be addressed through discussion with the general public. Our research uncovered three distinct viewpoints:  The general public perceives synthetic biology to be complex, risky and uncertain. We attempt to elucidate negative perceptions through exploratory research, and dissuade uncertainty through interactive debate.</p>
  
 
 
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<h1>iGEM Biosensors</h1>
 
<h1>iGEM Biosensors</h1>
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<p>In the past few years, plentiful participants in iGEM competition constructed biosensors by genetic engineering. These biosensors were targeted at a huge range of analytes with the use of various biocatalysts.</p>
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<p>In the past few years, many iGEM teams have constructed biosensors. These biosensors were targeted at a huge range of analytes with the use of various enzymes.</p>
  
 
 
 
 
 
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                                         <image src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/8/8d/Team_HKUST-Rice15_SensorStatistics.jpg" style="width: 100%; height: auto;">
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                                         <p style=" text-align: center" ><strong>Figure 1. Statistics on iGEM projects working on biosensor, 2012-14</strong></p>
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                                         <p style=" text-align: center" ><strong>Figure 1. Statistics on iGEM projects working on biosensor, 2012-2014.</strong></p>
  
 
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<h1>Exploratory Research</h1>
 
<h1>Exploratory Research</h1>
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<p>The primary focus of HKUST-Rice 2015 iGEM Team is to develop an KPN microbial biosensor to detect available KPN concentrations in soil, thus monitoring soil quality. It is believed that the application can be extended far beyond agricultural purposes, such as in water quality surveillance or sewage management. The team has no plan to reverse the preliminary design of the KPN microbial biosensor; this notwithstanding, the human practices team explores further including opinions from stakeholders who require soil or water management.</p>
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<p>The primary focus of the HKUST-Rice 2015 iGEM team project is to develop a microbial biosensor to detect available nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium (NPK) concentrations in soil. This idea could be extended beyond agriculture, such as in water quality surveillance or sewage management.   The human practices team explores the opinions of stakeholders invested in soil sensing technologies.</p>
  
 
                                         <image src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/3/3f/HKUST-Rice15_MediatingProcess.jpg.png" style="width: 100%; height: auto; position: left;">
 
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  <p style=" text-align: center" ><strong>Figure 2. The paradigm of the interviewees’ perceptions on the in-field application of KPN microbial sensor </strong></p>
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  <p style=" text-align: center" ><strong>Figure 2. Interviewees’ perceptions on the field applications of an NPK microbial sensor. </strong></p>
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<p>The paradigm above illustrates interviewees’ perceptions on the in-field use of KPN microbial biosensors in their field (Figure 2).</p>
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<p>The paradigm above illustrates interviewees’ perceptions on the in-field use of NPK microbial biosensors in their field (Figure 2).</p>
  
 
       <p style=" text-align: right"><a href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:HKUST-Rice/Practices_ExploratoryResearch"> Learn more ... </a></p>
 
       <p style=" text-align: right"><a href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:HKUST-Rice/Practices_ExploratoryResearch"> Learn more ... </a></p>
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<h1>Bioethical Debate</h1>
 
<h1>Bioethical Debate</h1>
 
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<p>The HKUST-Rice iGEM team collaborated with the Rice University Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering (IBB) Girls’ BioScience STEM initiative program, a weeklong summer camp held each year for economically disadvantaged girls at César Chávez High School in Houston, Texas. These students were presented following the question for the debate: “Is it ethical to treat micro-organisms as a machine for the betterment of agriculture?” </p>
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<p>The HKUST-Rice iGEM team collaborated with the Rice University Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering (IBB) Girls’ BioScience STEM Initiative, a weeklong summer camp held each year for economically disadvantaged high school students. These young ladies were asked to debate the following question: “Is it ethical to treat microorganisms as a machine for the betterment of agriculture?” </p>
  
  
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Latest revision as of 20:37, 15 September 2015

Human Practices


Introduction

This human practices project focuses on public perceptions of synthetic biology applications and their ethical implications. Several significant concerns arise regarding ethics and biosafety, especially the biohazard potential of the applications of synthetic biology. These can be addressed through discussion with the general public. Our research uncovered three distinct viewpoints: The general public perceives synthetic biology to be complex, risky and uncertain. We attempt to elucidate negative perceptions through exploratory research, and dissuade uncertainty through interactive debate.

iGEM Biosensors

In the past few years, many iGEM teams have constructed biosensors. These biosensors were targeted at a huge range of analytes with the use of various enzymes.

Figure 1. Statistics on iGEM projects working on biosensor, 2012-2014.

Exploratory Research

The primary focus of the HKUST-Rice 2015 iGEM team project is to develop a microbial biosensor to detect available nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium (NPK) concentrations in soil. This idea could be extended beyond agriculture, such as in water quality surveillance or sewage management. The human practices team explores the opinions of stakeholders invested in soil sensing technologies.

Figure 2. Interviewees’ perceptions on the field applications of an NPK microbial sensor.

The paradigm above illustrates interviewees’ perceptions on the in-field use of NPK microbial biosensors in their field (Figure 2).

Learn more ...

Bioethical Debate

The HKUST-Rice iGEM team collaborated with the Rice University Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering (IBB) Girls’ BioScience STEM Initiative, a weeklong summer camp held each year for economically disadvantaged high school students. These young ladies were asked to debate the following question: “Is it ethical to treat microorganisms as a machine for the betterment of agriculture?”

Learn more ...