Achievements

We are proud to announce that we achieved the following goals

General Achievements

• We completed the Judging Form
• We created a description of our project in time and documented each aspect of the project on this page.
• Documented 20 parts taken from the Registry of Standard Biological Parts.

Experimental Achievements

• We designed a novel system for detection of circulating tumour cells in blood samples using genetically modified bacteria.
• We designed a genetic circuit that integrates two different cancer specific signals (lactate and AHL)in an AND gate.
• We implemented a method to do single cell analysis of cancer cells by expressing Annexin V in the E. coli outer membrane, which enables them to selectively bind to apoptotic cancer cells.
• We designed 8 synthetic LldR dependent promoters and characterized them. Additionally, the influence of the lacate importer LldP was characterized.
• We characterized parts of the natural E. coli lldPRD-operon, on which there is only a limited amount of information present in the literature.
• We documented and submitted two new basic parts to the iGEM parts registry and created a part collection with 14 parts.
• We designed a chip for future application of our MicroBeacon E. coli.
• We participated in the interlab study.
• Our experiments complied with the safety instructions at the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering D-BSSE in Basel where our lab is situated.

Modeling Achievements

• We separately modeled two different signals of our cancer detection system, the Lactate Module and the AHL Module.
• We defined and estimated all relevant parameters for our models.
• We integrated the two modules into a Combined Compartment Model to simulate a logical AND gate.
• To account for the diffusion and degradation of signaling molecules under real-world conditions we designed various Reaction-diffusion Models.
• We optimized our model by integrating experimental data gathered by the characterization of our LldR promoter constructs.
• We showed that the successful detection of cancer cells with our system is feasible in principle.

Human Practices Achievements

• We went to two different schools, thaught the children about what DNA is, performed experiments with them and published an article about it in the local newspaper.
• We told the ETH-student magacine polykum about iGEM and gave an interview.
• We collaborated with the team from Stockholm by testing some of their constructs.
• We contributed to the Newsletters from Amoys team, met with the Darmstadt team, helped with a survey from EPFL and provided Colombias team with protocols and advice when their transformations did not work.
• We interviewed many different experts from various fields, such as medical doctors, somebody from the ethics commission, the founder of a start-up or an expert in patents law and integrated the advice and ideas we got from them into the design.

Medal Criteria

	Register for iGEM, have a great summer, and attend the Giant Jamboree.	Going for it!
	Complete the Judging Form
	Create a Description of the team's project
	Document the team's parts using the Registry of Standard Biological Parts
	Present a poster and a talk at the iGEM Jamboree.	Going for it!
	Create a page on your team wiki with clear attribution of each aspect of your project.
	Document one new standard BioBrick Part or Device
	Experimentally validate that at least one new BioBrick Part of your own design
	Submit this new part to the iGEM Parts Registry.
	Human Practices in iGEM. Demonstrate how your team has identified, investigated and addressed one or more of these issues in the context of your project.
	Expand on your silver medal Human Practices activity
	Help another university to characterize a part
	Improve the characterization of a previously existing BioBrick Part or Device