■　News

2011our team project：Biodosimeter

In the modern world, radioactivity is a phenomena well understood by science, and harnessed by engineering for nuclear power generation, radiology in medicine, radioisotopic labeling in biological studies and numerous other applications. However, it is an undeniable fact that the ionizing radiation resulting from radioactive decay may cause critical effects on biological creatures, from the smallest bacteria to plants and animals including humans.

On March 11, 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake struck off the coast of Eastern Japan and triggered a series of equipment failures, nuclear meltdowns, and releases of radioactive materials at the Fukushima 1 Nuclear Power Plant, leading to a nationwide nuclear crisis. While ‘Grays’, ‘Sieverts’, ‘exposure’, ‘equivalent dosage’ and other related terms and units became referred daily in the media, much of the general populace remained ignorant of their meanings and significance. The need for low-cost, portable and easy-to-use dosimeters was apparent as measurements of radiation exposure could only be conducted at dedicated installations spaced far apart and the numbers reported only infrequently.

Hence, this year, iGEM Osaka has decided to tackle the subject of building a biological dosimeter. Focus will be placed on modularly transferring radiation-response and DNA repair genes from the extremophilic bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans to the well-characterized, easily cultivable chassis of Escherichia coli. Once radioresistance has been conferred, the native DNA damage detection and repair systems of E. coli will be tweaked to enable efficient sensing of ionizing radiation through detection of the resultant DNA damage. Finally, the system will be connected to well-defined, visible outputs such as color pigment production through further introduction of heterologous genes, resulting in a biological device capable of detecting ionizing radiation and alerting users to it through color change.

　■　Safety

Is there a local biosafety group, committee, or review board at your institution?

• If yes, what does your local biosafety group think about your project?

Yes, our university has a biosafety committee which requires students and faculty alike to take a biosafety course as well as submit an application before engaging in any research activity involving genetically-modified organisms. In general, as we stuck to the 'safe' organisms of E. coli and S. cerevisiae, the committee did not show any objection to our project.

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