Team:SKLBC-DGSYZX/Software
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software
Abstract
Genetic circuits play a significant role in IGEM experiment. However, the diversity in styles of circuits not only hinders learners of synthetic biology, but also costs iGEMers lots of time to complete a standardized genetic circuits by using the current graphic design tool. After collaborating with and learning from university wet teams, we get the inspiration to develop a cloud-based tool-- Synsketch-- to design a standardized genetic circuit easily and efficiently,which is easy to learn, modify and share, therefore helping iGEMers to save lots of time creating a standardized genetic circuit. With other additional functions like personal account, multi-language interface and well-classified tags, Synsketch is able to inspire scientific curiosity among the public. We further develop it into a free innovative educational tool for personalized learning in synthetic biology. As a result, with combination of education and business model, we manage to create a genetic circuits design tool and bring iGEM to everyone and everywhere.
Background
Nowadays iGEM has become more and more popular,the official website has attracted more and more people.But when people surf the iGEM’s official website,they run into trouble:
- Many iGEMers may find it difficult to draw a clear and beautiful flow diagram of experiment.
- People who are interested in synthetic biology experiments are confused about some flow diagrams of experiment because they are too difficult to be understood.
- Some Chinese readers cannot well understand the all-English articles.
- It's not convenient enough for users to find out a project through thousands of projects in the website.
- We cannot find out a biobrick both quickly and accurately.
- It will be better if we can store up or comment on some interesting projects.
- Many synthetic biology lovers cannot get a clear connection among the various of biobricks.
- Experiment teams have troubles in analyze their experimental data.
......
We summarize their problems,these problems can be classified as three aspects:for iGEMers,for biology lovers and for the public.In order to help people solve their problems as well as popularize iGEM,our team decided to begin our project----MY iGEM.
Synsketch website
Synsketch
Many iGEMers meet some difficulties such as drawing flow diagrams of experiment,searching for biobricks,analyze others’ experiments and so on.So we build up a new function for them----Synsketch.Synsketch is an online drawing board that can effectively help iGEMers draw clear and standardized flow diagrams of experiment.IGEMers can use this tool to consummate their projects.
Synsketch’s functions
As a revolutionary tool,Synsketch has many wonderful functions which make iGEMers work more conveniently and effectively.
- Draw your own picture:Have trouble in drawing flow diagrams of experiment?Synsketch can help you draw clear and standardized flow diagrams of experiment.You just need to pitch on the design elements you want and then drag it to a suitable place,a clear picture is occurring.
- Save pictures:After finishing drawing a drawing flow diagram of experiment you can save it in two different ways.You can download it to your computer and save it.Or you can sign up and then store it up in your personal account.The pictures that you store up will be permanently preserved in your personal account.
- Share it quickly:As you finish drawing your picture,a QR code is generated.You can share your QR code to your friends,they can quickly see your picture.
- Search for source material:You can browse others’ picture,also,you are able to thumb up and store up.If you want to find source material of one specific theme,you can input the keywords and Synsketch will help you search the source material.
- Biobricks mind mapping:In order to build up a connection among various of biobricks.We sort out the biobricks and then draw them into mind map.If you put your mouse pointer on the biobrick,its connected biobrick will appear.In the form of mind mapping,you can classify biobricks quickly.
- Connection with pictures:connection to pictures:You can easily find the relevant picture through Synsketch.The only thing you should do is to click a biobrick,and then the relevant pictures pop out.
- Prefix and suffix:Find it boring to add a prefix or a suffix to a biobrick?Don't worry,Synsketch can help you add prefixes and suffixes.That help people save a lot of time.
- Design your own picture:If you are good at drawing,you can use Synsketch to design your own source material.You can also upload your source materials to our material library.
Synsketch’s highlight
- Standardization:Make a comprehensive survey on various of flow diagrams of experiment,we find that the pictures are not uniform:some are too complex,some are too simple,some are confused,some are incomplete...So we decide to make Synsketch in order to establish a unified standard.Synsketch is a standardized tool that helps iGEMers draw clear and unified flow diagrams of experiment.If every team uses Synsketch to draw flow diagrams of experiment,we will get a unified visual effect.So that flow diagrams of experiment will not be obscure,people can understand all the experimental principle easily.
- Adaptation:With Synsketch,you don’t need to start from lines when you want to draw your flow diagrams of experiment.Just pitch on the design elements you want and then drag it to a suitable place,a standardized picture is completed.So the only thing you should do is to combine the basic elements according to the experimental principle.In this way you can reduce the risk of making mistake.Also,if you make a mistake,Synsketch is available for you to revise your picture both quickly and accurately.Synsketch is a really useful tool which is easy to learn and easy to use.
- Interaction: You are closely connected to your flow diagrams of experiment and biobricks.Your picture is bound to relevant biobricks.Once you click your picture,relevant biobricks that have appeared in your picture pop out.Otherwise,if you search for a biobrick,relevant pictures appear.Through Synsketch,you can build up a mind map quickly.
Future development
Synsketch is a really useful tool,it has a wide developmental foreground.At the present stage,Synsketch is a characteristic feature of our website.But it is available to develop Synsketch into a independent application.We will improve it's existing functions and then gain more useful new functions.
- off-line:We will try to make our Synsketch independent from our website,so we will develop offline service.So that you don't need to connect to the Internet.You can use Synsketch whenever and wherever.
- Synsketch community:We will build up the Synsketch Community in order to make it more convenient to share your pictures as well as communicate about your problems.Synsketch is a platform for iGEMers to learn more about drawing pictures.
And later we can publish the Synsketch to the application store such as App Store,Google Play,Windows Store and so on.
Other basic function of Synsketch website
create personal account
By creating the account, user is able to store up articles or videos that he is interested in and even share them with friends through various social networks. During the information era, it’s a trend to communicate through the Internet. So the personal account of our website will establish a social network among iGEM lovers around the world.
select language
By using a language library, our website is able to select language so that users are easy to understand some difficult terminologies. Not only has our website now achieved the bilingual to facilitate Chinese users, but also will we work on to make further improvements to include other languages such as Germany, Japanese and so on.
view the recommendatory books and videos
On the front page of the website, there is a regular recommendation for books and websites. IGEM lovers and synthetic biology learners will find that useful to view the recommendatory materials.
use tags and key words to search
All the articles and analyses about previous objects are well classified by tags so that users can simply type the key words in the searching box, press the search bottom, and get all the information with the same key words. Tags will save a lot of time for users to look through large amount of information to finally get what they really want.
see mind map of biobricks
For every article about previous projects, there is a mind map about all the biobricks involved in the projects, which demonstrates the specific function and usage of biobricks. Usually it takes readers lots of time to go through the all passage about the project to understand the function of biobricks and the method about how they link together. However, with the help of mind map, users will have a clear recognition of the whole process and can learn more about the basic information of biobricks.
Brief introduction of forum
The forum, closely connected with the website, is a platform for iGEM lovers to communicate. They can share both their problems during the research process and their new discoveries in the field of synthetic biology. And during the communication, the whole iGEM community is able to establish a close link. Through the process of asking and answering, those who first step in the door of synthetic biology can get lots of help from the professors of the field and have the opportunity to stand on the shoulder of their ancestors.
Features
User-friendly
Synsketch is user-friendly because the powerful language library will help users to overcome the language barrier and provide users with better understanding of those academic papers. And the site map will offer a clear navigation for users and make even those who use the website for the first time to sign up and look for information easily.
Useful
Both the website and forum are very useful for IGEM lovers and those who major in or teach biology. For academic researchers, the tags help to classify the contents and make it easy to find the exact information; and the mind map about biobricks will offer a necessary tool for researchers when they are working on an IGEM project. For the public, the recommendations for relevant books and videos will definitely open up their eyes to the mysterious and amazing world of biology; and the forum is a useful way for them to get information and help from the academic researchers or professors. So our project is basically useful for both academic researchers and ordinary public.
