Team:MSU-Michigan/Applied Design

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Applied Design Hardware Measurement Model


MSU-iGEM 2017 developed a cost effective, applied biosensor. We designed this biosensor to detect water contaminants in a variety of circumstances and be used by multiple audiences. The biosensor is user friendly even to common consumers and high school students as well. The simple design promotes easy assembly and can be used as an education tool for high schools to show the possibilities of synthetic biology. In detecting water contaminants, the biosensor is durable and portable for scientists to use in field testing and consumers to use at home. The system is designed for initial testing for contaminants that are not regulated or tested for by the EPA. The biosensor provides a cost effective, rapid initial to test if the water must be analyzed by more costly measures. The design also utilizes Arduino boards to apply the needed potential so the bacteria can produce electricity.

Future Applications

Microbial Fuel Cells

Paper MFC Procedure

    Purpose: Create ultra-low cost MFCs to be innoculated with Shewanella Oneidensis MR-1 and then induced with a selected compound

    Materials:
  • Whatman Paper
  • Scissors
  • Razor
  • Aluminum Foil
  • 8B Graphite Pencils
  • Carbon Cement
  • Crayon
  • Superglue (cyanoacrylate)
  • Parchment Paper
    • Procedure:
  • Cut out 30mm x 30mm squares of whatman paper (6 per reactor) and one piece of parchment paper of the same size.
  • Color the sides of five pieces of whatman paper (5mm in from edges) with crayon (both sides). One piece can be set aside, this will be the blank.
  • Fully Color one piece of whatman paper. This will be the cover.
  • Draw on the center of two pieces of paper with 8B graphite pencil for at least five repititions. These will be the anode and cathode.
  • Cut out 2cm long 1cm wide strips of aluminum foil.
  • Lightly superglue aluminum foil to wax part of both anode and cathode. Allow foil to extend 1cm onto anode/cathode.
  • Paint cement glue onto the anode and cathode. Ensure proper ventilation and safety. Allow to dry a minimum of five hours.
  • Cut the center out of two pieces of colored whatman paper. These will be the chamber pieces.
  • Superglue the whatman paper together with small dabs of glue on only the corners of the paper in the order of cover, chamber, chamber, cathode (with foil facing up), blank, parchment paper, anode(with foil facing down).
"A solvent-free microbial-activated air cathode battery paper platform made with pencil-traced graphite electrodes"

Why MFCs?

  • More cost efficient
  • Design promoter inserts to detect biologically relevant molecules in the environment
  • Develop method of removing dangerous molecules by binding proteins

Applied Design

Best Applied Design Special Prize

This is a prize for the team that has developed a synbio product to solve a real world problem in the most elegant way. The students will have considered how well the product addresses the problem versus other potential solutions, how the product integrates or disrupts other products and processes, and how its lifecycle can more broadly impact our lives and environments in positive and negative ways.

To compete for the Best Applied Design prize, please describe your work on this page and also fill out the description on the judging form.

You must also delete the message box on the top of this page to be eligible for this prize.

Inspiration

Take a look at what some teams accomplished for this prize.