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| <div class="container"> | | <div class="container"> |
| <div class="page text"> | | <div class="page text"> |
− | <div class="section-title"> | + | <div class="section-paragraph"> |
− | <h3>Purpose</h3> | + | <p style="display: block; text-align: center; font-size: 1em; font-weight: 400;"><b>QGEM takes safety seriously. Not just because we have too, but because we want our team to always return to work |
| + | healthy the next day. Although human life is our biggest safety consideration we also care about environmental |
| + | safety.</b> |
| + | </p> |
| </div> | | </div> |
| <div class="section-paragraph"> | | <div class="section-paragraph"> |
− | <p style="display: block; text-align: left; font-size: 1em; font-weight: 400;"> | + | <p style="display: block; text-align: left; font-size: 1em; font-weight: 400;">Due to the <b>COVID-19 pandemic our lab access this year was restricted.</b> In conversation with our faculty advisors and Queen’s University Research Services it was ultimately decided that <b>working in a shared lab posed to much risk not just to our team but our community,</b> if spread where to occur. Since lab access did not occur all summer, our team did not undergo wet lab health and safety training – of course if lab access had actually occurred, we would have undergone this. <br><br>Working at home can be isolating or frustrating as time goes on. We’ve always encouraged both paid student employees and volunteers on our team to set a schedule that works for them and take breaks as needed. Our weekly meetings have given our team a chance to see each other’s faces at an uncertain time and reflect on making our working lives more comfortable. <br><br>Hypothetically, the <b>E.coli K12 strains used do not colonize in the human gut,</b> have very limited survival in the environment, and have no known negative effects on microorganisms or plants. For these reasons we think it is a good model organism to work with, had we gone in the lab. Much of this information was obtained after reviewing the <b>Canada Pathogen Data Sheet.</b> <br><br>It’s important to note, should the biosensor be made, we’ve taken steps to ensure in our hardware design that proteins are separated and never come into contact with a patients skin or enter their body for safety reasons such as accidental entry of parathyroid hormone into the body.<br><br> |
− | With ongoing laboratory restrictions imposed at Queen’s University due to COVID-19, a large focus of our
| + | |
− | project became modelling. Modelling often serves as a critical component of the design and planning phase
| + | |
− | of any successful iGEM project. By creating models, we can verify our literature-derived theories about
| + | |
− | the systems we are using, along with in silico ‘proof-of-concepts’ that impact our design considerations.
| + | |
− | Therefore, we ensured that sophisticated modelling techniques were incorporated into every aspect of our
| + | |
− | project. This included (1) an inquiry on the dynamic stability of our phosphate, potassium, glucose,
| + | |
− | parathyroid hormone (PTH), and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) biosensor constructs, (2) development
| + | |
− | of an E/K coiled-coil immobilization system, and (3) the guided mutation, and introduction of cysteine
| + | |
− | residues for immobilization.
| + | |
| </p> | | </p> |
| </div> | | </div> |
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| </div> | | </div> |
| </section> | | </section> |
− | <section class="page-content"> | + | |
− | <div class="section-paragraph">
| + | |
− | <p style="display: block; text-align: center; font-size: 1em; font-weight: 600; padding-left: 4em; padding-right: 4em;">
| + | |
− | QGEM takes safety seriously. Not just because we have too, but because we want our team to always return to work
| + | |
− | healthy the next day. Although human life is our biggest safety consideration we also care about environmental
| + | |
− | safety.
| + | |
− | </p>
| + | |
− | <p style="display: block; text-align: left; font-size: 1em; font-weight: 400;">
| + | |
− | Due to the <strong>COVID-19 pandemic our lab access this year was restricted.</strong> In conversation with our faculty advisors and Queen’s University Research Services it was ultimately decided that <strong>working in a shared lab posed to much risk not just to our team but our community,</strong> if spread where to occur. Since lab access did not occur all summer, our team did not undergo wet lab health and safety training – of course if lab access had actually occurred, we would have undergone this. <br><br>
| + | |
− | | + | |
− | Working at home can be isolating or frustrating as time goes on. We’ve always encouraged both paid student employees and volunteers on our team to set a schedule that works for them and take breaks as needed. Our weekly meetings have given our team a chance to see each other’s faces at an uncertain time and reflect on making our working lives more comfortable.<br><br>
| + | |
− | | + | |
− | Hypothetically, the <strong>E.coli K12 strains used do not colonize in the human gut</strong>, have very limited survival in the environment, and have no known negative effects on microorganisms or plants. For these reasons we think it is a good model organism to work with, had we gone in the lab. Much of this information was obtained after reviewing the Canada Pathogen Data Sheet. <br><br>
| + | |
− | | + | |
− | It’s important to note, should the biosensor be made, we’ve taken steps to ensure in our hardware design that proteins are separated and never come into contact with a patients skin or enter their body for safety reasons such as accidental entry of parathyroid hormone into the body. <br><br>
| + | |
− | | + | |
− | </p>
| + | |
− | </div>
| + | |
− | </section>
| + | |
| <section class="blue-safety-section" style="background-color: #33658a;"> | | <section class="blue-safety-section" style="background-color: #33658a;"> |
| <div class="container"> | | <div class="container"> |