Team:Gaston Day School/Results
Results of our work
This year we decided to use E. Coli to detect cadmium in water by responding with RFP. With the cadmium detector, we were able to get the E. Coli to respond to cadmium and release the RFP. To test the cadmium detectors, cultures were grown for 24 hours in the presence of 0, 0.25, or 0.75 mM cadmium. Absorbance was measured using a Vernier SpectroVis Plus and data was collected and analyzed using Microsoft Excel’s t-test function. Results are reported as absorbance at 517 nm normalized using absorbance at 700 nm. Results for both 0.25 and 0.75 mM cadmium are significantly different from the negative control at the p<0.01 level (n=11).
We also used E. coli as a temperature sensor that detected high-temperature levels in water. To collect data, we used a SpectroVis Plus from Vernier with the excitation wavelength set at 405nm and the peak emission from 410-415nm. If the construct were working, we would expect a linear increase in absorbance as temperature increases. These points are clearly not linear and not significantly different from each other (n=8). Bars represent average ± SEM.
We also built the constructs for the detection of lead and arsenic with a response of blue and green pigments, however, we have not functionally tested.
Future plans
Moving forward, we plan to functionally test to get the Cadmium and Arsenic detectors working so we can have the color detector be able to detect all of the colors. One problem that we had for functionally testing this year is the restrictions on the chemicals we can use because of our K-12 facilities. However, the promotor we can use for Arsenic will also detect cadmium and release the green pigment that will be detected by the color detector and Arduino. Since a few of our components are not attached to the main Arduino board, we will redesign the outlook to make our model more integrated and can be used for the situation in the real world, such as rivers. We plan on improving our app to include more information that will make the app more precise on the metal that is in water, the temperature of the water, and time.
Results of our work
This year we decided to use E. Coli to detect cadmium in water by responding with RFP. With the cadmium detector, we were able to get the E. Coli to respond to cadmium and release the RFP. To test the cadmium detectors, cultures were grown for 24 hours in the presence of 0, 0.25, or 0.75 mM cadmium. Absorbance was measured using a Vernier SpectroVis Plus and data was collected and analyzed using Microsoft Excel’s t-test function. Results are reported as absorbance at 517 nm normalized using absorbance at 700 nm. Results for both 0.25 and 0.75 mM cadmium are significantly different from the negative control at the p<0.01 level (n=11).
We also used E. coli as a temperature sensor that detected high-temperature levels in water. To collect data, we used a SpectroVis Plus from Vernier with the excitation wavelength set at 405nm and the peak emission from 410-415nm. If the construct were working, we would expect a linear increase in absorbance as temperature increases. These points are clearly not linear and not significantly different from each other (n=8). Bars represent average ± SEM.
We also built the constructs for the detection of lead and arsenic with a response of blue and green pigments, however, we have not functionally tested.
Future plans
Moving forward, we plan to functionally test to get the Cadmium and Arsenic detectors working so we can have the color detector be able to detect all of the colors. One problem that we had for functionally testing this year is the restrictions on the chemicals we can use because of our K-12 facilities. However, the promotor we can use for Arsenic will also detect cadmium and release the green pigment that will be detected by the color detector and Arduino. Since a few of our components are not attached to the main Arduino board, we will redesign the outlook to make our model more integrated and can be used for the situation in the real world, such as rivers. We plan on improving our app to include more information that will make the app more precise on the metal that is in water, the temperature of the water, and time.