Synthetic Biology Project Examples

Medicine Energy Environment Technology

Medicine

Synthetic Biology Offers New Hope For Malaria Victims March 24, 2004

According to the WHO, each year nearly 500 million people become infected with malaria, and nearly three million — mostly children — die from it.

"By inserting genes from three separate organisms into the E. coli, we're creating a bacterial strain that can produce the artemisinin precursor, amorphadiene. We are now attempting to clone the remaining genes needed for the E. coli to produce artemisinin." -- chemical engineering professor Jay Keasling

Energy

2008 Project by Harvard iGEM Team

Shewanella oneidensis MR-1

Four 2009 iGEM Projects

Environment

Edinburgh iGEM 2006 Awards: Best Real World Application, Best Poster

Poison Water Arsenic poisoning affects 100 million people Serious in Bangladesh Wells tap sedimentary layer with Arsenic 1 in 4 wells contaminated Testing methods expensive, require instruments and expertise

Range of Outputs If no arsenic is present: Urease raises the pH to 9-10 If 5 ppb arsenic is present: Repressor shuts down Urease, pH remains neutral, pH 7 If 20 ppb arsenic is present: LacZ produced, pH 4.5

Project Summary Our team have designed and modelled a biosensor that can detect several different concentrations of arsenic and emit a pH signal in response. The device can detect the WHO guideline level of 10 ppb and the Bangladeshi standard of 50 ppb for arsenic in drinking water. A proof of concept Biobrick construct has shown a pH response to a concentration of arsenic of 5 ppb.

Technology

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ABOutput NOR Logic Gate

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