Team:RUM-UPRM/Engineering
Engineering Success
Phase I
I. Research
Before starting the design of our project, we turned to our communities to see what challenges they were facing and how we could use Synthetic Biology to help. We came across the contamination in the Island of Vieques and the health and biodiversity consequences faced.
II.Identify a Problem
We researched further into this situation and after consulting with experts in the field, we identified Mercury and RDX as two of the most present contaminants that we could bioremediate using Synthetic Biology.
III. Finding the Solution
We found past IGEM projects that focused on the bioremediation of Mercury and used these ideas to create our own. We also found genes that can biodegrade RDX that we could implement as well.
IV. Design
Working on our solution, we decided to construct genetic circuits that would help us achieve the bioremediation of Mercury and the biodegradation of RDX. During this process, we consulted different individuals about their perspectives of the situation including our Advisors & Primary Investigators, citizens, engineers, professors and students.
V. Phase II Preparation
Due to Covid-19, there are many things we were not able to do. We did not have access to the lab, nevertheless we prepared a plan to return to the lab, a proposal to gain access to Vieques to gain access to Vieques, a hardware competition and an experimental design for the next cycle. We will also take into consideration the judges’ feedback after this year’s competition for the improvement of our project
Phase II
I. Building Prototype in Lab
When we finally gain access to the lab, we will build our prototype. This will require a lot of hard work and dedication. This will consist of constant lab work.
II.Building Hardware
We will also finish the design of the hardware of our project taking into account the results from the Hardware Competition.
III. Test prototype and hardware with samples from Vieques
After the hardware and prototype are built, we will use the samples obtained from Vieques to test the efficiency and viability of our project.
IV. Optimization of prototype
Using the data obtained from our tests, we will make the changes needed to optimize the efficiency of our bioremediation system.
V. Implementation
After final tests and changes, we will implement our system in Vieques.