|
|
| (62 intermediate revisions not shown) |
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| - | <div><b>Nikki Kapp</b></div> | + | <html> |
| - | <div><b><br>
| + | We had a briefing today chaired by James. Key action points of the day were to organize our CIDs, organize who was in charge of each team aspect and discuss the problems that we thought could be solved by Synthetic Biology. Once these problems had been discussed, we each chose one project that another team member came up with to research. We also were introduced to Professor Freemont and Professor Kitney who gave us an insightful talk about what awaits us. A trip to the Royal Society of Science exhibition ended up turning into a lunch in China town (the exhibition actually starts tomorrow) and we talked to Nicola Morgan who is interested in investigating the use of bacteria in making patterns on clothing.<br> |
| - | </b></div>
| + | (Text by Chris) |
| - | <div>- Evidence suggests that several components found in most sunscreens are harmful to us and can be carcinogenic, also most sunscreens only protect against UV B (315-280 nm) and not UV A (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: sans-serif; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">315-400 nm)</span>.</div>
| + | </html> |
| - | <div><br>
| + | |
| - | </div>
| + | |
| - | <div>- These sunscreens use metal oxides (Zinc oxide) to absorb UV radiation, but the effects of absorbing these metals into your skin are not fully understood and are thought to lead to production of reactive oxygen species and could lead to melanomas rather than preventing them. </div>
| + | |
| - | <div><br>
| + | |
| - | </div>
| + | |
| - | <div>- Scytonemin is a pigment found in cyanobacteria which protects them from UV radiation, absorbing <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">325-425 nm. Its synthesis requires three enzymes, SycA-C</span></div>
| + | |
| - | <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">(http://www.int-res.com/articles/meps/158/m158p283.pdf)</span></div>
| + | |
| - | <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br>
| + | |
| - | </span></div>
| + | |
| - | <div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000" face="sans-serif"><br>
| + | |
| - | </font></div>
| + | |
| - | <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br>
| + | |
| - | </span></div> | + | |
| - | | + | |
| - | <div><br>
| + | |
| - | </div>
| + | |
| - | <div>
| + | |
| - | "http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/30/Scytonemin_biosynthesis.png/800px-Scytonemin_biosynthesis.png" alt="File:Scytonemin biosynthesis.png"><br>
| + | |
| - | <br>
| + | |
| - | </div>
| + | |
| - | <div><br>
| + | |
| - | </div>
| + | |
| - | <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br>
| + | |
| - | </span></div>
| + | |
| - | <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">- M</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">ycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) are produced by organisms adapted to environments with high levels of sunlight (eg. cyanobacteria and algae), protecting them from UV radiation. There are 20 types and they also serve as anti-oxidants by stabilising free radicals (anti-ageing?). </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> In a bioinformatics study the genes YP_324358 (predicted DHQ synthase) and YP_324357 (O-methyltransferase) were identified in <i style="box-sizing: border-box; ">A. variabilis</i> PCC 7937 cyanobacteria. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0888754309002353)</span></div>
| + | |
We had a briefing today chaired by James. Key action points of the day were to organize our CIDs, organize who was in charge of each team aspect and discuss the problems that we thought could be solved by Synthetic Biology. Once these problems had been discussed, we each chose one project that another team member came up with to research. We also were introduced to Professor Freemont and Professor Kitney who gave us an insightful talk about what awaits us. A trip to the Royal Society of Science exhibition ended up turning into a lunch in China town (the exhibition actually starts tomorrow) and we talked to Nicola Morgan who is interested in investigating the use of bacteria in making patterns on clothing.
(Text by Chris)
"
