This year our team consisted of 8 molecular biologists, a life scientist, a computer scientist, a forensic scientist, a chemical engineer and an English student. We bring different branches of expertise together and are a true example of an interdisciplinary team. We decided on our project idea during April, after months of intense and independent discussions. Unless otherwise stated, all the experiments, constructs, code, wiki and results documented on our Wiki were performed, written and collected by the Sensynova team.
Experimental Lead: Valeria Verrone
Sensynova Framework Proof of Concept: Jessica Birt (design), Valeria Verrone, Declan Kohl (characterisation)
Arsenic Biosensor: Valeria Verrone (characterisation), Declan Kohl (design)
Sarcosine Oxidase: Sophie Badger (characterisation), Jessica Birt (design)
FimE Switch: Marcia Pryce (characterisation), Bradley Brown (design)
Cell Free Protein Synthesis Systems: Bradley Brown
deGFP: Bradley Brown (design and characterisation), Sophie Badger (implementation)
Chromoproteins: Lais Takiguchi (design, implementation, characterisation), Valeria Verrone (characterisation within framework)
Processing Variants: Jessica Birt (design), Lais Takiguchi (characterisation)
Synthetic Promoter Library: Lais Takiguchi
Fluorescene Normalisation: Michaela Chapman, Ansh Vyas
Assembly Methods: Anna Walsh, Michaela Chapman, Evie Whittaker
Microfluidics Software: Jack Cooper
Interlab Study: Michaela Chapman (Head), Declan Kohl, Zoe Wilson, Marcia Pryce, Ansh Vyas
Human Practices Lead: Declan Kohl
Integrated HP: Declan Kohl, Jessica Birt
Outreach and Education: Zoe Wilson (lead), Declan Kohl, Sophie Badger, Marcia Pryce
Scientific Communication Analysis: Zoe Wilson, Declan Kohl
Modelling Lead: Jessica Birt
Simbiotics: Jessica Birt, Bradley Brown
Design of Experiments for CFPS: Bradley Brown
Microfluidics Software: Jack Cooper
Wiki Coding and Design: Jack Cooper, Bradley Brown
Poster Development: All Team Members
Presentation: Declan Kohl, Sophie Badger and Zoe Wilson
All supervisors and advisers gave advice to the team over a range of areas, including the initial project idea and help in the laboratory.
Anil Wipat: PI - general advice
Thomas Howard: Second PI - general advice
Jon Marles-Wright: Instructor - general advice
Dana Ofiteru: Instructor - general advice
Angel Goñi-Moreno: Instructor - modelling advice
Wendy Smith: Adviser - general and laboratory advice
Michael White: Adviser - laboratory advice
Alice Banks: Adviser - laboratory advice
Jonny Naylor: Help with the modelling aspect of the project, specifically with his Simbiotics software (which he customised to our needs!)
James McLaughlin: Assisted us with the technical aspects of our wiki.
Exeter iGEM 2017: Analysed our deGFP construct for us using their fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting machine.
Evry Paris-Saclay 2017: collaborated with us to test their novel synthetic promoter regulated by psicose in our Sensynova framework.
Dr Chris French, Dr Martin Peacock, Dr Karen Polizzi and Dr Oliver Purcell for their invaluable insight into biosensor development and their help in influencing our project.
Ivy Wellman from DEFRA: For her insight into the legislative procedure deliberate release of GMOs into the environment.
Jasmine Bird: Took time to help proof-read the wiki and suggest improvements.
