Overview

Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) are a genomic feature of many prokaryotic and archeal species. CRISPR functions as an adaptive immune system, targeting exogenous sequences that match spacers integrated into the genome. Our project focuses on developing a set of tools for synthetic control over the CRISPR pathway. This includes a method for creating polymers of repeat-spacer-repeat units, the development of CRISPR biobricks (CAS genes, leader sequences) for several CRISPR subtypes (E. coli, B. halodurans, and L. innocua), testing these components on plasmids containing GFP, and a software tool to collect and display CRISPR information, as well as select spacers from a particular sequence. Given the relatively recent progress in the scientific understanding of this system, we see the potential for a wide range of biotechnological applications of CRISPR in the future.

Project Links:

[https://2011.igem.org/Team:Arizona_State/Project/E_coli E. coli]

[https://2011.igem.org/Team:Arizona_State/Project/B_halodurans B. halodurans]

[https://2011.igem.org/Team:Arizona_State/Project/L_innocua L. innocua]

[https://2011.igem.org/Team:Arizona_State/Project/Software Software Tool]

CRISPR

Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) are a genomic feature of many prokaryotic and archeal species. CRISPR functions as an adaptive immune system. A CRISPR locus consists of a set of CAS (CRISPR associated) genes, a leader, or promoter, sequence, and an array. This array consists of repeating elements along with "spacers". These spacer regions direct the CRISPR machinery to degrade or otherwise inactivate a complementary sequence in the cell.

Want to read more? See our detailed review of CRISPR research here:

[https://2011.igem.org/Team:Arizona_State/Project/CRISPR CRISPR Review]

Human Practices

The field of synthetic biology is rapidly expanding, and efforts to increase public understanding are crucial. Over the past few months, ASU iGEM has been busy collaborating with other iGEM teams to build an ultimate resource for synbio human practices, culminating in CommunityBricks: The Standard Registry of Synbio Activities, and AlumniGEM, an alumni network for former iGEMers. In addition, we have visited local high schools, spoken at university events, and helped found the very first high school iGEM team in the state of Arizona.

Human Practices links:

[https://2011.igem.org/Team:Arizona_State/Outreach/Events Events]

[https://2011.igem.org/Team:Arizona_State/Outreach/Collaborations Collaborations]

[https://2011.igem.org/Team:Arizona_State/Outreach/Exploring_Synthetic_Biology Curriculum]

[https://2011.igem.org/Team:Arizona_State/Outreach/Outreach_in_Practice Outreach in Practice]

Applications

CRISPR is a BFD.

Read more here:

[https://2011.igem.org/Team:Arizona_State/Project/Future Future Applications]