Team:GreatBay SZ/Collaborations
HFI: Assistance on CRISPR Technology
The coresponding page on HFI's website: https://2020.igem.org/Team:GZ_HFI/Collaborations
Background
The CRISPR technology was both needed in our project and HFI's project. We assisted them in understanding the process of gene cleavage and finally, they succeeded in knocking out their target gene.
Process
We started teaching by introducing our project, and why we had to knock out the FimA gene. On top of that, how did we knock out that particular gene. The first step was to design a suitable plasmid for their project which would be inserted into the E.coil. To be more clear, we illustrated the reason why we chose pCas as the plasmid which was inserted into the E.coil Top10-- it has the cas9 system and Lambda-Red system. Next step was to designed a gRNA that could be inserted into the pTarget plasmid to guide the cas9 Enzyme and to cut particular fragments. Besides theoretical concepts, we also recommended a practical website to help them visualize their gRNA designing process.
fig.1 the website we used for visualization(here is the link https://www.atum.bio/eCommerce/cas9/results?multipleContacts=false)
Once we finished the basic set up, we discussed the function of the plasmid. In order to complete gene knockout, we not only need to cut the gene fragment but also to repair it in a certain way, otherwise the fragment will lead to the death of E. Coli. Therefore, we addressed to them that fimA up Arm and fimA down Arm were the repair templates which we provided E. coli Top10 with. (Want to see how we finish it? Check out the fimA knockout page in the project navigation.)
The following is a video recording the process of it:
What had we learned?
In the process of helping HFI, we got more familiar with this team from Guangzhou. Although we come from different cities, we are all passionate about IGEM and synthetic biology. It is passions that motivated them to ask us for help; It is passions that let us work efficiently; It is passions that bond us together as one. The teaching process of CRISPR technology is mutually beneficial for both teams. For them, they comprehended a new cutting edge technology, and for us, we consolidated knowledge we had, transcending it to more people. In addition to academic fruit, a new friendship was established by this collaboration. As inheritors of science, we shared unique and novel views on synthetic biology which might light up the future.
fig.2 Our team members and the members of HFI
GreatBay_SCIE: Received Aidance on Wiki Establishment
The coresponding page on SCIE's website: https://2020.igem.org/Team:GreatBay_SCIE/Collaborations
Since GreatBay_SCIE started their Wiki early, they had the opportunity to provide us suggestions with our Wiki. They helped us solve incompatible picture challenges, and they fixed the displaying difficulties on a few of our webpages. Thus, they made contributions to our process of wiki construction.
SZU: Biological Informative Pamphlet Design
The corresponding page on SZU's Website: https://2020.igem.org/Team:SZU-China/Collaborations
Pamphlet about Synthetic Biology and iGEM
Other than communicating with fellow teams, we collaborated with college students to broaden our horteamss as well. Cooperating with the iGEM team from Shenzhen University and others, we together devised a pamphlet whose content contains contemporary iGEM projects and fundamental knowledge of Synthetic Biology. By providing information of our project, the pamphlet became more informative, and thus might spread knowledge from a larger spectrum.
fig.3 The cover of the pamphlet from of website of SZU-China
South China IGEM Teams Assemble Conference
We participated in the presentation rehearsal of the South China IGEM Teams Assemble Conference in an early stage of the project. The main purpose was to absorb inspiring opinions from other teams. Then, expanded applications of our own project. At the beginning of the project, our scope of application mainly had three directions: Home-use protein Painting, Wearable devices and electronics in oral cavity or gut.