Background:

In this day and age, one of the most pressing issues we face is climate change. Earth’s average temperature is increasing at an alarming rate and contributes to rising sea levels, variations in precipitation, and the disruption of ecosystems. Climate change is caused by the trapping of the sun’s radiation by certain gases. This process is called the greenhouse effect. Similar to the glass roof of a greenhouse, different gases in our atmosphere trap the heat from the sun. The most widely recognized gas is carbon dioxide, but there is another gas that is even more hazardous: methane. Methane is a greenhouse gas which is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a quarter of methane emissions are created by livestock alone, mainly cattle. In Nebraska, there are over 6 million cows and each releases 70 kg to 120 kg of methane annually. Since climate change is an issue that affects all of us, finding a solution to this problem is vital.

Project Overview:

Our project aims to reduce Nebraska’s methane emissions by genetically engineering E. coli and testing it in ruminal fluid. The organisms responsible for the synthesis of methane in the rumen are called methanogens. The goal is to either inhibit the methanogens from creating methane or to outcompete them in the rumen with genetically engineered E. coli. To do this our team will simultaneously pursue the biosynthesis of bromoform in the rumen of cattle, as well as the facilitation of nitrite to ammonia reduction. These processes will divert Hydrogen away from the methanogens and instead turn it into energy that can be used by the cattle. Our goal is to effectively restrict methane production so as Nebraskans we can help reduce the environmental footprint of our state and world.

Visit Our UNL Website: igem.unl.edu

Before you start:

Please read the following pages:

• Competition Hub
• Wiki Requirements page
• Template documentation

Wiki template information

We have created these wiki template pages to help you get started and to help you think about how your team will be evaluated. You can find a list of all the pages tied to awards here at the Pages for awards link. You must edit these pages to be evaluated for medals and awards, but ultimately the design, layout, style and all other elements of your team wiki is up to you!

Editing your wiki

On this page you can document your project, introduce your team members, document your progress and share your iGEM experience with the rest of the world!

Use WikiTools - Edit in the black menu bar to edit this page

Tips

This wiki will be your team’s first interaction with the rest of the world, so here are a few tips to help you get started:

• State your accomplishments! Tell people what you have achieved from the start.
• Be clear about what you are doing and how you plan to do this.
• You have a global audience! Consider the different backgrounds that your users come from.
• Make sure information is easy to find; nothing should be more than 3 clicks away.
• Avoid using very small fonts and low contrast colors; information should be easy to read.
• Start documenting your project as early as possible; don’t leave anything to the last minute before the Wiki Freeze. For a complete list of deadlines visit the iGEM 2017 calendar
• Have lots of fun!

Inspiration

You can also view other team wikis for inspiration! Here are some examples:

• 2014 SDU Denmark
• 2014 Aalto-Helsinki
• 2014 LMU-Munich
• 2014 Michigan
• 2014 ITESM-Guadalajara
• 2014 SCU-China

Uploading pictures and files

You can upload your pictures and files to the iGEM 2017 server. Remember to keep all your pictures and files within your team's namespace or at least include your team's name in the file name.
When you upload, set the "Destination Filename" to
T--YourOfficialTeamName--NameOfFile.jpg. (If you don't do this, someone else might upload a different file with the same "Destination Filename", and your file would be erased!)

UPLOAD FILES