Purpose
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.