Difference between revisions of "Team:IIT Delhi/abstract"

Line 662: Line 662:
 
<h2 style="font-family: 'Roboto', sans-serif;color:white;font-size:150%;vertical-align:text-top;">
 
<h2 style="font-family: 'Roboto', sans-serif;color:white;font-size:150%;vertical-align:text-top;">
 
The Problem: <br>
 
The Problem: <br>
−
The world these days has turned into a junkyard of wastes. In today’s world, greenhouse gases such as NOx and SOx pose a global challenge to our sustainability which needs to be addressed on an immediate note. <br>
+
The world these days has turned into a junkyard. Today greenhouse gases such as NOx and SOx pose a grave challenge to our environment and sustainability – a problem that needs urgent solutions. <br>
−
<li>Being greenhouse gases, both NOx and SOx have a good hand in Global Warming, the most challenging problem at these days. Considering the present rate of rise in temperature, the world’s certainly at the stake of destruction. </li>
+
<li>Being greenhouse gases, both NOx and SOx play a critical role in Global Warming. Considering the present rate of rise in temperatures, we are certainly on path of self-destruction. </li>
−
<li>These oxides increase the oxidizing capacity of the atmosphere which is responsible for the photochemical production of ozone in the lower layers of the atmosphere which has detrimental effects. </li>
+
<li>These oxides increase the oxidizing capacity of the atmosphere, which is responsible for the photochemical production of ozone in the lower layers of the atmosphere causing detrimental effects on humans and environment.</li>
−
<li>SOx is the main precursor of air pollution which is a deteriorating problem for all of us.  </li>
+
<li>SOx or Sulfur Oxides are responsible for phenomenon of acid rains and acidified soils. It results in huge economic losses every year due to destruction of farm crops, buildings and environment. Additionally, SOx aggravates respiratory diseases such as asthma and pneumonia, thus affecting human health. </li>
−
<li>Producing acid rain and acidified soils, Sulfur Oxides not only result in respiratory problems such as asthma and pneumonia, but also destroy farm crops, buildings and environment, causing huge economic losses every year. </li>
+
 
−
<li>Both NOx and SOx also have detrimental effects on the environment. </li>
+
 
  <br>
 
  <br>
 
<br>
 
<br>
 +
Approach: <br>
 +
Our team, iGEM IIT Delhi, took up the challenge to combat catastrophic effects of pollution and assumed the role of a ‘pollution crusader’. Using our previous years’ work our aim was to replace SCR and build a prototype that can clean the exhaust of all pollutants including NOx, SOx, CO, CO2, and soot. 
 +
<li>Our approach was to first synthetically construct a strain of Ecoli bacteria which can convert harmful components of exhaust gases coming out of chimneys of various industries and car exhausts into harmless by-products.</li>
 +
<li>Secondly, our goal was to build a working prototype which will utilise our modified bacteria in a small reactor so as to process incoming harmful exhaust to safe derivatives.</li>
 +
 +
<br><br>
 
An Innovative Solution: <br>
 
An Innovative Solution: <br>
−
Our team, iGEM IIT Delhi, plans to combat this catastrophic effect using one of the most promising field of research, Synthetic Biology.  <br>
 
−
Firstly, we aimed to come up with a strain of engineered bacteria (using Synthetic Biology) which converts harmful components of an exhaust gases coming out of chimneys of various industries and car exhausts into harmless by-products. And as a matter of fact, we have been successful in achieving this far. However, we have given a parallel thought about improving the efficiency and durability of the bacteria and also about including further gases with harmful consequences to be reduced as well. 
 
 
   <br>
 
   <br>
−
Secondly, we are aiming to build a working prototype using innovative techniques of mechanical and chemical engineering, thus giving an inter-disciplinary dimension to our project. <br>
+
 
−
 
+
<li>We have successfully cloned five BioBricks which convert Nitrite (NO2-) to Ammonia (NH3), Nitrous Oxide (N2O) to Nitrogen (N2), and Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) to Sulphur (S)  </li>
−
The reactor which we are designing can be used on a multi-purpose basis like :<br>
+
<li>We have designed a prototype which converts Soot, NOx and SOx to relatively harmless products.</li>
−
 
+
<li>We are actively collaborating with the Delhi state government. We are hopeful that commercialise this proto for market for diesel generators and car engines. </li>
−
<li>Diesel Generator </li>
+
−
<li>Car Engine </li>
+
−
<li>Industrial Purposes </li>
+
 
   
 
   
−
This done, all that remains is to incorporate our genetically engineered bacteria into the prototype which will give the final touch to our project and allow us to offer the world with a unique solution to address air pollution! </p>
+
<li>A critical barrier to achieve optimal result in this construct is the regulation of heme protein production in EColi, a problem which remains unsolved. Our team has found a crucial regulatory pathway that can be manipulated to increase heme production and activity levels of heme protein. We have modelled this pathway, which we hope will prove beneficial to future iGEM teams to reliably carry forward research on the issue of heme protein regulation. </li>
 +
</p>
 
</h2>
 
</h2>
 
        </td>
 
        </td>

Revision as of 13:45, 18 September 2015

Our Project

The Problem:
The world these days has turned into a junkyard. Today greenhouse gases such as NOx and SOx pose a grave challenge to our environment and sustainability – a problem that needs urgent solutions.
  • Being greenhouse gases, both NOx and SOx play a critical role in Global Warming. Considering the present rate of rise in temperatures, we are certainly on path of self-destruction.
  • These oxides increase the oxidizing capacity of the atmosphere, which is responsible for the photochemical production of ozone in the lower layers of the atmosphere causing detrimental effects on humans and environment.
  • SOx or Sulfur Oxides are responsible for phenomenon of acid rains and acidified soils. It results in huge economic losses every year due to destruction of farm crops, buildings and environment. Additionally, SOx aggravates respiratory diseases such as asthma and pneumonia, thus affecting human health.


    • Approach:
    Our team, iGEM IIT Delhi, took up the challenge to combat catastrophic effects of pollution and assumed the role of a ‘pollution crusader’. Using our previous years’ work our aim was to replace SCR and build a prototype that can clean the exhaust of all pollutants including NOx, SOx, CO, CO2, and soot.
  • Our approach was to first synthetically construct a strain of Ecoli bacteria which can convert harmful components of exhaust gases coming out of chimneys of various industries and car exhausts into harmless by-products.
  • Secondly, our goal was to build a working prototype which will utilise our modified bacteria in a small reactor so as to process incoming harmful exhaust to safe derivatives.


    • An Innovative Solution:

  • We have successfully cloned five BioBricks which convert Nitrite (NO2-) to Ammonia (NH3), Nitrous Oxide (N2O) to Nitrogen (N2), and Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) to Sulphur (S)
  • We have designed a prototype which converts Soot, NOx and SOx to relatively harmless products.
  • We are actively collaborating with the Delhi state government. We are hopeful that commercialise this proto for market for diesel generators and car engines.
  • A critical barrier to achieve optimal result in this construct is the regulation of heme protein production in EColi, a problem which remains unsolved. Our team has found a crucial regulatory pathway that can be manipulated to increase heme production and activity levels of heme protein. We have modelled this pathway, which we hope will prove beneficial to future iGEM teams to reliably carry forward research on the issue of heme protein regulation.