Team:Queens Canada/HP/Silver
Our Policy & Practice team this year led various projects and outreach partnerships this summer aimed at educating the Queen's student body and Kingston community about the rising contributions of synthetic biology in scientific advancements and the endless potential of the field itself.
Promoting Synthetic Biology to the Kingston Community
QGEM strives to make an impact educating the local Kingston community about synthetic biology and the importance of scientific research. This year, QGEM participated in Science Rendezvous Kingston, where we hosted our own booth and organized activities for local families and children to engage in.
One of the activities we hosted at our booth allowed children to carry out their own test tube experiment growing yeast. We set up flasks containing either water or sugar water, then introduced dry active yeast into either medium and sealed a balloon overtop each flask. We had children predict which flask they believed would produce the larger balloon, and allowed them to observe as the process of cellular respiration took place, causing the balloons to expand as the yeast produced carbon dioxide in the flasks. This was a great opportunity for children and their families to learn about a simple science experiment that can be done at home to learn about the wonders of cellular biology!
Another activity that we hosted at our booth allowed children to explore the inside of a human cell at a molecular level using virtual reality (VR) technology. Using a VR headset and the app InCell VR, participants had the opportunity to learn about cell components such as the nucleus, the mitochondria, DNA, and ribosomes all through an interactive game experience. Our VR station was a huge success, especially with the younger audiences!
Finally, we provided the kids with a take-home activity that they could perform as a science experiment on their own with adult supervision. Our take-home activity involved an alternative spin to Gregor Mendel's peas, where we gave kids the opportunity to grow and cross cherry tomatoes. Each family was given a packet of cherry tomato seeds with seeds for red, gold, and black cherry tomatoes as well as an instructions manual for crossing tomato plants. Our activity, named "Mendel's Tomatoes", will be a great hands-on supplement for children aspiring to be young scientists to learn about topics such as genetics and inheritance.
Overall, QGEM's first year being involved with the Kingston Science Rendezvous was a huge success, and we hope to continue being involved in the future to help inspire young students to pursue STEM-related careers. We would like to thank the Science Rendezvous Coordinators from the Queen's Faculty of Education, Kim Garrett and Lynda Colgan, for providing us with this opportunity!
Relating Transcription Rate to Proteins Produced
Assumption:
CsgA alone and CsgA-fusions (such as CsgA-AFP8 and CsgA-SpyTag) behave similarly in terms of transcription in the cells.
The transcription rate of the CsgA gene is modeled as follows:
where,
Thus, by the stated assumption, the transcription rate of CsgA-fusions can be modeled with the same equation.
RBS Strength to Translation Rate
Altering the RBS strength of the ribosome binding site in a plasmid, can be completed by altering the genetic makeup of the RBS. This was modeled through the utilization of the RBS Calculator created by Dr. Howard Salis, at Penn State University. Using the forward implementation of the calculator, one input's their protein coding sequence, organism, and target translation initiation rate. The calculator then outputs the RBS sequence required to achieve such a translation initiation rate under the conditions outlined.
Translation Rate to Proteins Produced
