Difference between revisions of "Team:Paris Saclay"

m
Line 19: Line 19:
 
<h2>Project's abstract</h2>
 
<h2>Project's abstract</h2>
 
<article class="column">
 
<article class="column">
−
<p>To define our project, our team conducted research on previous iGEM projects on the one hand to familiarize with the spirit of the iGEM competition and on the other hand to measure the achievements made by previous teams. Very soon we realized that biosafety was a crucial aspect in the competition but often forsaken by teams due to lack of time or resources to conduct the requisite experiments.</p>
+
<p>The iGEM competition is the birthplace to many innovative ideas aimed at improving processes in synthetic biology by working with Genetically Engineered Organisms (GEO). However, most projects involve a risk of <b>GEOs dissemination</b> outside the laboratory, which raises environmental issues. To prevent such a risk, we designed a biosafety system that would prevent or at least dramatically limit the chances of accidental GEO spreading. The system consists in both a <b>physical confinement</b> which still allows the GEO to carry out its main function, and a <b>temperature-based containment</b> which ensures the survival of the organism in a restricted temperature range. <i>Escherichia coli</i> was chosen to implement the temperature based system due to its wide use in the iGEM projects. Thus, our system dubbed <b>SafetE.coli</b> could provide the iGEM teams with a "safer" chassis which is less likely to contaminate the environment.</p>
−
<p>Regarding to multiple issues and risks that may cause the accidental (or not) spread of a newly Genetically Engineered Organisms (GEO) in  the environment, the reflection led us to  design a Universal System of Biosafety that could control the evolution of the GEO if/when it interacts with uncontrolled environment. Thus, we would be able to ensure that the organism would not survive outside of the lab setting in which it was originally created.</p>
+
−
<p>The idea is to synthesize a bacterial system that could be controlled in vivo through changes we voluntarily introduced into its genome.
+
−
<p>To materialize the concept, we have devised a modified E.coli bacterium to regulate its viability in different conditions. To achieve this, the idea is to act on different parameters :
+
−
</article>
+
−
<article class="column right">
+
−
<li>Thermal: to allow our system to survive only in a restricted temperature range</li>
+
−
<li>Physical: collaborating with chemists, we will be able to design a filter allowing only the nutrients and not the bacteria to pass through.</li>
+
−
<p>Once operational, the effectiveness of our system will be tested in a natural environment developed through our collaboration with ecologists.</p>
+
−
<p>Considering the risks that could be caused by the release of the GEO on Biomass, public health, but also from an ethical point of view, and taking into account the shortcomings noticed on this aspect, many possible applications can come out with our project in order to avoid various forms of environmental risks related to organisms generated by synthetic biology.</p>
+
−
<p>The ultimate goal is to set up a universal Biobrick capable of providing the needed control for the newly generated system and that could be used by future iGEM teams to obtain a genetically engineered safe machine.</p>
+
 
</article>
 
</article>
 
</html>
 
</html>
 
{{Team:Paris_Saclay/footer}}
 
{{Team:Paris_Saclay/footer}}

Revision as of 19:17, 17 September 2015

Project's abstract

The iGEM competition is the birthplace to many innovative ideas aimed at improving processes in synthetic biology by working with Genetically Engineered Organisms (GEO). However, most projects involve a risk of GEOs dissemination outside the laboratory, which raises environmental issues. To prevent such a risk, we designed a biosafety system that would prevent or at least dramatically limit the chances of accidental GEO spreading. The system consists in both a physical confinement which still allows the GEO to carry out its main function, and a temperature-based containment which ensures the survival of the organism in a restricted temperature range. Escherichia coli was chosen to implement the temperature based system due to its wide use in the iGEM projects. Thus, our system dubbed SafetE.coli could provide the iGEM teams with a "safer" chassis which is less likely to contaminate the environment.

Contact
eigem.parissaclay AT gmail DOT com
t@iGEMParisSaclay
aUniversité Paris Sud
a91405 Orsay, France Copyright © 2015 iGEM Paris Saclay. All rights reserved All inspirations encouraged.
*This wiki was conceived during long nights of work and a great coffee experience in the beautiful Orsay, France.