Difference between revisions of "Team:USMA-West Point/Description"

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Revision as of 15:10, 22 September 2017

USMA-West_Point

See "Attributions" for source

Description

The International Genetically Engineered Machine (IGEM) foundation encourages work inside and outside the lab to create sophisticated projects using standard biological parts. This project for the IGEM competition is geared towards creating a system that detects chemicals by way of scent for potential health and military use. We propose to develop a controlled environment where neurons with enhanced olfactory receptors can be exposed to certain olfactants and a voltage signal can be read from them. In order to achieve this, we obtained a multi electrode array to seat the neurons and read a signal, and designed a bioreactor and perfusion system to expose the neurons to media and olfactants while maintaining a closed system. A program was developed to convert the signal output by the neurons into a digital voltage signal. From this signal, we determined how the neurons react when exposed to certain odorants. This data is important to the progression of this project by helping develop an easy, inexpensive method for neuronal research and establishing more information about the constraints of neurons and olfactory receptors.

Why We Chose this Project

References

iGEM teams are encouraged to record references you use during the course of your research. They should be posted somewhere on your wiki so that judges and other visitors can see how you thought about your project and what works inspired you.

Inspiration

See how other teams have described and presented their projects: