1. 2011 iGEM 2011 Cobalto project

2. Our Cobalto Project We want to built an Escherichia coli strain Able to accumulate Cobalt, even if it is in low concentration Able to form a biofilm in the presence of this element in order to propose an efficient biofilter to decontaminate liquid effluents containing radioactive isotope of cobalt, one of the major element responsive for radioactive water emission in the environment.

3. Our Cobalto Project But first, a very brief story of radioactivity

4. Brief history Discovery of radioactivity at the beginning of the 20 th Century: Henri BECQUEREL Maria SKŁODOWSKA-CURIE Pierre CURIE 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics

5. Brief history Discovery of Radium and Polonium, two new elements of the periodic table: Maria SKŁODOWSKA-CURIE 1911 Nobel Prize in Chemistr y

6. Brief history Discovery of artificial radioactivity & transmutation phenomenon: Irène JOLIOT-CURIE Frédéric JOLIOT 1935 Nobel Prize in Chemistr y

7. Discovery of new particles NEUTRON by James CHADWICK POSITRON by Carl David ANDERSON predicted by Paul DIRAC Brief history 1935 Nobel Prize in Physics 1936 Nobel Prize in Physics 1933 Nobel Prize in Physics All these discoveries have opened the way to Quantum Physics… but we prefer now to focus on the use of radioactivity in the world…

8. Use of radioactivity At the beginning of the 20 th Century In various applications Very serious such as medicine More strange such as addition of radium in drinking water, soda, soap, toothpaste, wool, butter, chocolate… even in condoms !!

9. Use of radioactivity Nowadays Medicine Therapeutic applications / Diagnostic applications Dating History 14 C dating / Geologic dating / Wine dating Biology - Food Metabolism research / Sterilization Industries Aeronautic / Smoke alarm Military applications Nuclear powered / Atomic bomb Energy Nuclear power plants

10. Use of radioactivity Generation of energy is responsive for a large dissemination of radioactivity in the environment. So, we will focus on nuclear power plants to better understand the context of our project…