U i O s l o : L A S I E R

UiOslo iGEM 2017 is based in the University of Oslo, and have taken up the challenge to make a yeast-based biological laser, or biolaser.

On wikipedia, a laser, is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation".

Our team of biologists and physicists have made this possible using green fluorescent protein (GFP) as the gain medium. GFP is a protein that absorbs light and emits light with lower energy. The GFP is actively produced by transgenic yeast (S. pombe). The pinhole of the laser is equiped with a filter that only allows the emitted light to pass, making the output of the apparatus monochromatic.

Why is the biolaser useful?

One of the properties of a biolaser compared to a non-biological one is that the implementation could involve a living, changing gain medium. The amount of fluorescent protein in the cell would change over time as protein is synthesized or broken down, which is something that could be monitored over time. Coupled with a proper setup, this could be a very useful tool for monitoring gene expression in real time. Changes in membrane shape in a particular cell would affect the optical properties of the cell, which further could affect the laser output to a measurable degree. As such, a biolaser has potential as a tool for basic research in cell biology and diagnostics.

Our project plan is set up with two main goals: making a functional proof-of-concept by testing the lasing potential of a superfolder GFP protein solution, and then taking it a step further by trying to use live yeast cells as the gain medium.

Your team has been approved and you are ready to start the iGEM season!

Before you start:

Please read the following pages:

Styling your wiki

You may style this page as you like or you can simply leave the style as it is. You can easily keep the styling and edit the content of these default wiki pages with your project information and completely fulfill the requirement to document your project.

While you may not win Best Wiki with this styling, your team is still eligible for all other awards. This default wiki meets the requirements, it improves navigability and ease of use for visitors, and you should not feel it is necessary to style beyond what has been provided.

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:

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!)

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Team:UiOslo Norway