Difference between revisions of "Team:Macquarie Australia/Description"
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<h4>Ideas Explored</h4> | <h4>Ideas Explored</h4> | ||
<p>The two different ideas that our project explores are the academic basis of photosynthesis and the potential applications.</p> | <p>The two different ideas that our project explores are the academic basis of photosynthesis and the potential applications.</p> | ||
| − | <p>Academically we want to learn more about the photosystems that enable photosynthesis. However, we also want to investigate real-world applications.</p> | + | <p>Academically we want to learn more about the photosystems that enable photosynthesis. However, we also want to investigate real-world applications to help the public engage with the topic.</p> |
| + | <h4>What is new from last year?</h4> | ||
| + | <p>We intend on completing the Chlorophyll biosynthesis pathway within <i>E.coli</i>.</p> | ||
| + | <p>A completely new aspect is the construction of Photosystem-II.</p> | ||
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Revision as of 11:02, 6 August 2015
Project DescriptionOur project has its focus on photosynthesis - the natural process where plants and algae convert sunlight into useable energy. By developing artificial photosynthesis in a biological system we can better harvest the unlimited supply of solar energy. The long-term goal is to engineer bacteria that can produce hydrogen gas on an industrial scale. This year the aim of our team is to engineer bacteria to manufacture chlorophyll, the primary molecule of photosynthesis. Chlorophyll harvests light and is involved in the excitation transfer of energy. Chlorophyll-a can be synthesised via a pathway from the protoporphyrin-IX molecule. By placing 13 genes into 4 biobrick vectors we can recreate the pathway in Escherichia coli. Experimental OrganismWhy did we choose Escherichia coli (E.coli) as a chassis? One reason is that E.coli is a well-categorised species with an abundance of literature and stocks world-wide. Ideas ExploredThe two different ideas that our project explores are the academic basis of photosynthesis and the potential applications. Academically we want to learn more about the photosystems that enable photosynthesis. However, we also want to investigate real-world applications to help the public engage with the topic. What is new from last year?We intend on completing the Chlorophyll biosynthesis pathway within E.coli. A completely new aspect is the construction of Photosystem-II. |