Difference between revisions of "Team:Lethbridge HS/Description"

Line 81: Line 81:
  
 
<h2>Background Research</h2>
 
<h2>Background Research</h2>
−
<p class="center">In deciding our project we thought that we should choose something that would apply to our community as well as the international community. THis idea led us to look into products that are used worldwide, and one of the things we found was ink. It is used in schools, homes and most commonly workplaces. We then decided to go to the public and explore the idea of an innovation for ink as a viable product. After some research, we discovered that the ink is made up of three main parts; the resin, the solvent, and the colorant. After a bit more research we found that the colorant makes up over 50% of the cost of ink. This led us to investigate why, and we found that the production of colorants and pigments creates some horrible byproducts.
+
<p class="center">In deciding our project we thought that we should choose something that would apply to our community as well as the international community. This idea led us to look into products that are used worldwide, and one of the things we found was ink. It is used in schools, homes, and most commonly workplaces. We then decided to go to the public and explore the idea of an innovation for ink as a viable product. After some research, we discovered that the ink is made up of three main parts; the resin, the solvent, and the colorant. After a bit more research we found that the colorant makes up over 50% of the cost of ink. This led us to investigate why, and we found that the production of colorants and pigments creates some horrible byproducts. We took a tour of the Warwick Printing company in our hometown Lethbridge AB and learned about how the ink is used in the industry, we also learned from the owner Dave Warwick some of the important qualities of ink. More about the Warwick tour <a href="https://2017.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_HS/HP/Gold_Integrated">here</a>.
 
</p>
 
</p>
 
<br>
 
<br>
 
<h2>Deciding our Project</h2>
 
<h2>Deciding our Project</h2>
−
<p class="center">After our initial research and our investigation of applicability we decided that we would do a project on ink. We were then forced to decide what part of ink we would tackle. The cost breakdown of ink led us to decide to create a colorant and the information regarding the harmful byproducts of pigment production led us to the environmental approach.
+
<p class="center">After our initial research and our investigation into the industry and market we decided that we would do a project on ink. We were then needed to decide what sort of problems existed within ink production or usage. The cost breakdown of ink led us to decide to focus on the colorant portion of ink as it made up the majority of the cost. This led us to research colorants and how they are made and used. We found that there are a few different colorants, pigments, organic molecules, and inorganic salts or compounds. We found that the most used and in highest demand colorant was carbon black, which is the byproduct of burning petroleum for energy Fig. 1. We had found our problem! Harmful byproducts of carbon black production! We decided to combat this problem that we would produce a colorant of our own. We chose to produce four pigments that come from different plants or bacteria using synthetic biology Fig. 2.
 
<br>
 
<br>
−
Maybe we could have the image of pigment production here, the one that shows the harmful byproducts.
+
<img class="img-responsive" src=""></p>
 +
<p class="center" style="clear:both;"> Fig. 1 <i>The process of carbon black production as a byproduct of burning petroleum for energy.</i>
 +
</p>
 +
<p class="center">
 +
<img class="img-responsive" src=""></p>
 +
<p class="center" style="clear:both;">Fig 2. <i>Our process of pigment production using synthetic biology and four constructs which will be put into bacterial cultures.</i>
 
</p>
 
</p>
 +
<br>
 
<br>
 
<br>
 
<h2>SynthetInk</h2>
 
<h2>SynthetInk</h2>
 
<p class="center">Our final decision led us to SynthetInk, the environmentally friendly pigment production. We will be creating four pigments that are found in different organisms around the world. We have found the genes that will allow us optimal pigment production within cells. We have decided to use synthetic biology to solve this problem because we found it the best possible solution:
 
<p class="center">Our final decision led us to SynthetInk, the environmentally friendly pigment production. We will be creating four pigments that are found in different organisms around the world. We have found the genes that will allow us optimal pigment production within cells. We have decided to use synthetic biology to solve this problem because we found it the best possible solution:
 
<br>
 
<br>
−
<br>
+
 
−
(this will be a table or something but here is the content)
+
 
−
<br>
+
 
−
SynthetInk! Something about how cells will continually undergo cell division and produce pigment once we get our construct inside the cells. Also how the cells will just produce CO2.
+
 
−
<br>
+
 
−
<br>
+
 
−
Competing Methods:
+
 
−
<br>
+
 
−
Chemical synthesis - include a few pros and a lot of cons about this method
+
 
−
<br>
+
−
Plant harvesting and then processing - include how this method leads to deforestation as well as its large land requirements
+
−
<br>
+
−
The current method of carbon black - Include how it produces so many byproducts!
+
 
</p>
 
</p>
  

Revision as of 19:34, 28 October 2017




Background Research

In deciding our project we thought that we should choose something that would apply to our community as well as the international community. This idea led us to look into products that are used worldwide, and one of the things we found was ink. It is used in schools, homes, and most commonly workplaces. We then decided to go to the public and explore the idea of an innovation for ink as a viable product. After some research, we discovered that the ink is made up of three main parts; the resin, the solvent, and the colorant. After a bit more research we found that the colorant makes up over 50% of the cost of ink. This led us to investigate why, and we found that the production of colorants and pigments creates some horrible byproducts. We took a tour of the Warwick Printing company in our hometown Lethbridge AB and learned about how the ink is used in the industry, we also learned from the owner Dave Warwick some of the important qualities of ink. More about the Warwick tour here.


Deciding our Project

After our initial research and our investigation into the industry and market we decided that we would do a project on ink. We were then needed to decide what sort of problems existed within ink production or usage. The cost breakdown of ink led us to decide to focus on the colorant portion of ink as it made up the majority of the cost. This led us to research colorants and how they are made and used. We found that there are a few different colorants, pigments, organic molecules, and inorganic salts or compounds. We found that the most used and in highest demand colorant was carbon black, which is the byproduct of burning petroleum for energy Fig. 1. We had found our problem! Harmful byproducts of carbon black production! We decided to combat this problem that we would produce a colorant of our own. We chose to produce four pigments that come from different plants or bacteria using synthetic biology Fig. 2.

Fig. 1 The process of carbon black production as a byproduct of burning petroleum for energy.

Fig 2. Our process of pigment production using synthetic biology and four constructs which will be put into bacterial cultures.



SynthetInk

Our final decision led us to SynthetInk, the environmentally friendly pigment production. We will be creating four pigments that are found in different organisms around the world. We have found the genes that will allow us optimal pigment production within cells. We have decided to use synthetic biology to solve this problem because we found it the best possible solution: