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From 2011.igem.org

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Module 3: Gene Guard

Containment is a serious issue concerning the release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the environment. To prevent horizontal gene transfer of the genes we are expressing in our chassis, we have developed a system based on the genes encoding holin, anti-holin and endolysin. We are engineering anti-holin into the genome of our chassis, where it acts as an anti-toxin, and holin and endolysin on plasmid DNA. In the event of horizontal gene transfer with a soil bacterium, holin and endolysin will be transferred without anti-holin, rendering the recipient cell non-viable and effectively containing the Auxin Xpress and Phyto-Route genes in our chassis.

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Future Work

To carry on the work on the Gene Guard module, there are a number of steps we would take in the immediate future and others that form part of our long term plan.

Short-term plans

1. 16s rRNA of the bacteria grown up from sterile and non-sterile soil will be sequenced to determine the bacterial species present.

2. Replicates of the soil experiment will be analysed for expression of sfGFP.

3.

Long-term plans

1.

2.

3. Alternative to antibiotic resistance