Difference between revisions of "Template:Team:Utrecht/MainBody"

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Wageningen validated the secreted-Cas9 and secreted-Cpf1 biobricks for us (BB_numbers). Members of the Wageningen team came to Utrecht to perform this validation together with members of the Utrecht team in our lab. Hek293T-cells were transfected with secreted-Cas9 or secreted-Cpf1 or with regular intracellular Cas9 or Cpf1 as a control. Medium of the cells was analysed on a western blot to compare extracellular protein expression. This tells us whether Cas9 and Cpf1 are truly being secreted or if they just leak out of the cells. The results of this validation can be found on the Parts Page (> Links to [Basic Parts]) and the experimental page on secreted Cas9 and Cpf1. (>Links to [Experimental][Secreted])

In return, for the Wageningen team, we did a blind validation of some of their biobricks. We performed a CpxR BiFC measurement, where E.coli K12 cells were transformed with the pSB1C3-araCpBAD-CpxReYFPn-CpxReYFPc plasmid. Fluorescence was then measured over the course of 6 hours.(>Links to [Wageningen Collab Page]) We also performed a leucine zipper BiFC measurement, where we transformed split sfGFP and split Venus to E.coli K12 and also full sfGFP and full Venus as controls. Cells were then lysed and fluorescence was measured in the cell lysate. (>Links to [Wageningen Collab Page])  

As safety is a very important aspect in synthetic biology, we collaborated with the RIVM National Institute for Public Health and Environment of the Netherlands. They encouraged us to think about safety for different stakeholders. The information we gathered was summarized in an infographic, which we used to talk to the general public about synthetic biology and safety at an event organized by the RIVM. (>Links to [Human Practices][Safety])

Besides working in the lab on creating a diagnostic tool, we also tried to reach out to the public to make our project (and science in general) accessible and understandable to everyone. To achieve this, we collaborated with ‘de Kennis van Nu’, a Dutch platform of the national public broadcasting organization, that brings different scientific themes to the general public in an understandable way. On this platform we explain the formation of Utrecht’s first team, our design and how we are trying to solve healthcare problems. More information and some of the short videos we made can be found on our Outreach page (>Links to [Human Practices][Outreach]) and on the website of “De Kennis van Nu”

(>https://www.dekennisvannu.nl/site/special/iGEM-2017-studenten-ontwerpen-nieuw-leven/111).