Difference between revisions of "Team:SF Bay Area DIYBio"

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<h2>BioSunBlock - SunScreen Evolved!</h2>
 
<h2>BioSunBlock - SunScreen Evolved!</h2>
  
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<p>We are very concerned about bacteria getting sunburned and skin cancer (just joking). BUT we are going to make e.coli bacteria create mycosporine.</p>
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<p> BioSunblock intends to  manipulate a strain of the  bacteria, E.Coli, to produce mycosporine, a protein compound that does not naturally occur in the E.Coli.  Since E. Coli normally live in our intestines, and thus, in total darkness, we aim to insert modified gene sequences containing mycosporine, a compound thought to have sunblock qualities, to make the E. coli tolerant of UV light.Because we are inserting a DNA sequence for a non-naturally occuring substance into a bacteria, we are (hopefully) genetically engineering ourselves a microscopic factory with tangible implications.</p>
  
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<p> BioSunblock makes use of genetic engineering in manipulating a strain of the  bacteria, E.Coli, to create a compound that doesn't naturally occur in E. coli. We follow up with tools, like ultraviolet (UV) light, to direct evolution of the mycosporine genes in the hope of enhancing its factory-like abilities.</p>
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<p?> We are following up with tools, like ultraviolet (UV) light, to direct evolution of the mycosporine genes in the hope of enhancing its factory-like abilities. We believe that if we stress the bacteria in this manner, they will evolve better and more efficient mechanisms to protect themselves from UV light and will make more and better sunschreen.</p>
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<p> E.coli normally live in the human gut (large intestine) and thus in total darkness. We aim to insert, or "transform with," several modified genes so that E.coli are tolerant of UV light. One of the possible chemical compounds that can make the bacteria tolerant to UV light is mycosporine. However that is a compound and DNA is only good at making proteins, therefore we need to have the bacteria create proteins and enzymes that modify the proteins to become compounds. </p>
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<p>After designing the process, we want to make it better, so we will employ “directed evolution” to make the process better. We think that if we stress the bacteria with UV that they will start to evolve better and more efficient mechanisms to protect themselves from UV.</p>
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<p> The gist of our project is to insert the mycosporine genes E.Coli followed by exposure to lots of of sunshine in the hope that they will make more and better sunscreen.</p>
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<p> However that is a compound and DNA is only good at making proteins, therefore we need to have the bacteria create proteins and enzymes that modify the proteins to become compounds. </p>
  
  
 
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Revision as of 08:25, 15 November 2015

BioSunBlock - SunScreen Evolved!

BioSunblock intends to manipulate a strain of the bacteria, E.Coli, to produce mycosporine, a protein compound that does not naturally occur in the E.Coli. Since E. Coli normally live in our intestines, and thus, in total darkness, we aim to insert modified gene sequences containing mycosporine, a compound thought to have sunblock qualities, to make the E. coli tolerant of UV light.Because we are inserting a DNA sequence for a non-naturally occuring substance into a bacteria, we are (hopefully) genetically engineering ourselves a microscopic factory with tangible implications.

We are following up with tools, like ultraviolet (UV) light, to direct evolution of the mycosporine genes in the hope of enhancing its factory-like abilities. We believe that if we stress the bacteria in this manner, they will evolve better and more efficient mechanisms to protect themselves from UV light and will make more and better sunschreen.

However that is a compound and DNA is only good at making proteins, therefore we need to have the bacteria create proteins and enzymes that modify the proteins to become compounds.