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Team:uOttawa
From 2011.igem.org
Saccharomyces cerevisiae (budding or brewer's yeast) has emerged as an important micro-organisms in biomedical research and industry. Not only is this yeast an important model organism due to its homology to higher eukaryotes, but it sees wide commercial application as well. Small molecule biofabrication, biofuel production, food and beverage production all make heavy use of the humble yeast. For this reason we feel that it is essential that synthetic biology grapple with the manipulation, characterization, and optimization of gene expression and regulation in S. cerevisiae. To this end, team uOttawa set out to build a novel yeast chassis to allow the robust characterization of BioBricks in yeast. We have also submitted several BioBricks optimized for use in S. cerevisiae. Finally, we succeeded in developing a novel assembly protocol that will greatly improve upon existing BioBrick assembly protocols, not just for those manipulating yeast but for the whole BioBrick community. So raise a glass to your favourite single-celled eukaryote, and let yeast leaven your spirits.
Team
This year’s team brought together many students from different faculties. With fundraising, computer programming, website design and wet lab work there was a role for everyone.
Project
Characterization and standardizing of biological parts is a continuing problem for synthetic biologists. This year we decided to focus on developing a more efficient assembly method as well as optimizing characterization of BioBricks in S. cerevisiae.
Results
We were able to successfully create a new assembly method as well as characterize a number of transcription factors.
Parts Submitted
We submitted 7 new biobricks to the registry this year.
Human Practices
In order for the field of Synthetic Biology to grow, more youth outreach is needed. The uOttawa team created a game to teach simple synbio theory and has arranged high school tutorials for the fall. Also check out our essay on the public view on Synthetic Biology and ways of improving it.
Sponsors
The uOttawa team would like to thank our sponsors for their generous support this year. Our sponsors graciously supplied us with lab equipment, reagents and funds necessary for the team to compete.
