Team:ETH Zurich/Achievements
- Project
- Modeling
- Lab
- Human
Practices - Parts
- About Us
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 documented and submitted two new basic parts to the iGEM parts registry and created a part collection with 14 parts.
- We characterized parts of the natural E. coli lldPRD-operon, on which there is only a limited amount of information present in the Parts Registry and in the literature.
- 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
We registered for iGEM, had a great summer so far, and now we are looking forward to attending the Giant Jamboree! | Going for it! | |
We completed and submitted the Judging Form | ||
We created a description of our project in time. | ||
We documented all the parts taken from the Registry of Standard Biological Parts | ||
We are going to present a poster and give a talk at the Giant Jamboree. | Going for it! | |
We created this website for you to learn about every aspect of our iGEM project. | ||
We documented and submitted two new basic parts to the iGEM parts registry and created a part collection with 14 parts. | ||
Experimentally validate that at least one new BioBrick Part of your own design | ||
These new parts we also submitted 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 |