Difference between revisions of "Team:NYMU-Taipei/HP/Gold Integrated"

Improve the design of our product

We interviewed with professionals to collect their suggestions. We went to the largest microalgae supplier company in Asia, whose CEO mentioned the multi-benefits of algae and encouraged us to tackle different methods to increase algae oil accumulation. This meeting inspired us to include another pathway -- Pigment -- to improve photosynthesis efficiency, thereby producing excess starch that can then be converted to oil. This ended up becoming more effective compared to our initial nitrogen starvation pathway.

Better our algae

 We went to Academia Sinica and learned how to maximize algae growth from a plant and microbial professor. We also spoke with Team Tokyo Tech, who inspired us to construct a plasmid containing Melanin (black pigment) sequence for maximizing light intake.

Integrated our testing

We further reviewed the pathway, device, and testing of our project with several professors at National Yang-Ming University. Based on Professor Chen’s advice, we enhance our device (for testing the growth environment) by adding cloud technology. To check the growing situation by measuring OD value, we acquire how to use the Photo-Bioreactor from Dr. Ya-Tang Yang (NTHU team).

On July 18th, 2017, to enhance our knowledge on microalgae and seek advice of our project, we visited Academia Sinica, a national academy that supports research in Taiwan. We contacted Professor Chu Hsiu-An, a professor with a Ph.D. in Biochemistry. He works at the Institute of Plant and microbial biology department. He provided us with a supply of Synechocystis species PCC6803 that can survive with its high dependence on glucose. He gave us further information on the optimal conditions for the cultivation of algae. We are really grateful that Dr. Chu was willing to provide us with the algae he uses in his lab. We later cultivated our algae in our own lab.Genomic DNA of PCC6803 was further extracted for the construction of NrtA gene.

You-Yin Chen is a professor of biomedical engineering a National Yang-Ming University. He is responsible for the integration of semiconductor process, micro-electromechanical technology, and material science, in order to develop a new generation of nerve wafers. Obviously, our device needs his brilliant skills and guidance. Luckily, he is willing to help us set up the initial architecture of the entire project as well as the erection of the network. Also, he provides us rich resources and technology, and guides us through the establishment of the whole program such as pH sensor, motor, circuit design, etc. Furthermore, he teaches us Arduino development version of the application and design. Most importantly, he suggests that we can use the cloud technology to store more data and keep records. Thanks to Professor Chen, we are able to improve our quality of the device.

After the 5th Asia-Pacific iGEM Conference, NYMU team had a chance to contact the primary instructor of NTHU team, Dr. Ya-Tang Yang, and his laboratory students. Dr. Yang is the associate professor of Institute of Electronics Engineering, National Tsing Hua University.They provided us with a set of Photo-Bioreactor made by themselves and taught us how to use the Photo-Bioreactor. During August to September, we discussed with Dr. Yang and his lab students, trying to fix some difficulties we encountered.
After the Photo-Bioreactor finally worked smoothly, we started to measure the OD value of microalgae we cultivated, collected huge amounts of data, and drew growth curves for our projects. Meanwhile, we shared collated data to Dr. Yang’s lab for research use. We believe this collaboration would be a great academic exchange and produce some interesting results.

On June 18, 2017, due to the lack of chemicals, NYMU-Taipei team contacted the Teaching Assistant of Department of Life Sciences and Institute of Genome Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Mr. Nien Chung Yang, who manages the laboratory. Not only did he help us find the required chemicals such as iodine solution, and gradients of breeding medium, BG-11, but also provide us a working operation to prepare the breeding medium. Furthermore, Mr. Yang taught us how to work in experiment safely, and also gave us a lot of experimental advice on lab-working. Thanks to his generous support, we could progress our experiments more smoothly.