Team:RUM-UPRM/Future Projections
Future Projections
Due to the pandemic, we were unable to have access to a laboratory. This is why as part of Phase 2 of our project, we plan to keep developing the project and begin working in the laboratory under a structured safety plan to reinitiate. (see Safety section for document). We plan on performing the Gibson Assembly to assemble our genetic circuits.To verify if our genetic circuit works, we plan on testing it in different concentrations of RDX and Mercury to evaluate its efficiency. Also, we are in the process of modifying an existing biobrick to work as a specific killswitch that will activate in the presence of byproducts from the biodegradation of RDX. We plan on mutagenizing the promoters, pyear and pfirm, to make them less sensitive, and assure the full biodegradation of RDX. For future projections we want to adapt our circuits to biodegrade or bioremediate other contaminants present in other SuperFund sites in Puerto Rico and other countries.
The mathematical model presented as part of our Mercury and RDX prototype provides a quantitative insight into our system and its behavior, making it possible to optimize it through experimental work during Phase 2 of the project. This second phase will consist of recollecting experimental data in order to calculate the different kinetic constants to relate each component of the circuit and provide more accurate results through constant alteration and improvement of this model. Moreover, optimization of the hardware of our prototype will be conducted as part of experimental work in the laboratory.
Aside from the laboratory work, we plan on continuing our project, based on the input we received from our in human practices. As the pandemic settles down, we would conduct surveys and have one on one interviews with Viequenses. Additionally, we would visit the Anones Lagoon in Vieques to understand the environment we are working with and educate ourselves on a higher level while analyzing extra biosecurity measures we could incorporate into our project. For our Phase Two project, we would continue the collaborative work with the AULS RUM to keep bringing awareness to the deaf community and expand the ASL library with more synthetic biology terms. Also, we will continue mentoring and helping develop the first high school iGEM team in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. Additionally, we will continue to network with stakeholders and extend our discussion to people in government.