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Human Practice

Water pollution is going to be a noticeable threat in human society.In the problem of halo phenols degradation, we visited two researchers of Institute of Hydrobiology(IHB), Chinese Academy of Science(CAS) on May 5th.
Researcher Dongru Qiu, and researcher Feng He, both of whom work on environmental microbiology and environmental engineering respectively, met our HP team in IHB. HP teammates introduced our project to the two researchers, including our aim of degrading halo phenols, engineering bacteria and project progression. In later talking, HP teammates presented some questions, such as how to fix bacteria onto the column sustainingly. In this question, Qiu introduced the common usage of activated sludge in sewage disposal. In sewage, there are tons of microorganisms which secrete EPS(Extracellular Polymeric Substances) to form zoogloea granules. These granules can absorb and degrade organic molecules in high efficiency. So he suggested us consider using zoogloea as column stuffing, which could help binding engineering bacteria in a long period and reduce material consuming. Additionally, he suggested us using traditional stuffing such as silica gel or sandy soil, which could be found as good absorbents in natural environment.
Next Qiu gave us some suggestions such as to test the degrading activity of dehalogenase first, which could be examined by halo phenol auxotroph mutation. And also, if the degradation requires a whole pathway, maybe more genes and expression conditions should be added artificially. He suggested us building an activity detecting system, which could help detect the extracellular stability and ability of degradation quickly.

In June 11th, Whu-IGEM members went to kindergarten in the community. The first part is delivering a speech about microorganisms by Chang. At first, Chang gave some examples and explained how important microorganisms are to kids. Then Chang showed kids something that are made by microorganisms like yogurt or fruit vinegar, and kids seemed to be more curious about the speech. Chang also told them that microorganisms are not all bad, and some of them are very good friends of human. At last, Chang introduced some examples to deal the sewage by microbes, including our project.

The second part is the manual process. We guided children to make three types of halogenated phenol model including ortho position, meta position and para position. We bought a foam board and stick model. We taught children to cut the cyst-sepiment into regular hexagons. The hexagon represents benzene. The ball and stick are inserted at hexagonal angles as halogen atoms and hydroxyl groups. In that way, we got a halogenated phenol.
After that, we took the models downstairs to play a game. Children were divided into two teams equally and stood in lines. They would play the role of our engineered dehalogenation bacteria— break the bonds between halogen atoms and phenols. Two volunteers of our iGEM team stood away from the head of two queues with equal models, waiting for children running there. After the volunteer handed one model to one child, the child needed to pull the balls representing halogen atoms up from cyst-sepiment representing phenols, then they had to run back to the tail of the queue and hand the separated models to volunteers waiting there. Because our dehalogenase can function and break para-position halogenated phenols firstly, then meta-position and ortho-position halo phenols, children can only take para-position halo phenols firstly. One team who used the least time to break down the models would win. In fact, everyone in both teams was awarded a delicate toy and enjoyed a lot of fun.

From June 7th to 8th, WHU-IGEM members went to Shenzhen to visit the Chinese National Genebank and iCarbonX. We also exchanged views with Wang Boxiang, a professor of genetic biology in BGI.
In the National GeneBank, a collection of Biological Resources Samples, Bioinformatics Database and Bioinformatics Network are integrated to store and manage China's unique genetic resources, biological information and genetic data. We have visited the gene "reading" platform (large sequencing room) and "writing" platform (synthetic gene) to understand the efforts and achievements which have been made in the protection of species diversity and precision medical and other aspects.
Xue Xiaohui, the representative of 2017WHU-IGEM teacher introduced our project to Wang Boxiang. He pointed out that we have laid insufficiency in synthetic biology. He put out two corresponding proposals, one is to precisely regulate the role of enzymes. We should try to regulate the degree of dehalogenase gene expression according to change in concentration of organic halides; Second is to transform the enzyme.
In iCarbonX, we have seen the applications of bioinformatics in sports health care, beauty skin care, intestinal health etc. We understand the great potential of biotechnology and artificial intelligence to improve human life. Through this tour, our enthusiasm for IGEM project has been inspired.