Team:WLC-Milwaukee/Notebook
Project Timeline
November 2018
Brainstorming new projects, coming up with human practices ideas, and getting acquainted with who will be doing what! Hanging out, decompressing after the 2018 jamboree, and getting ready for winter break.
February 4, 2019
Began lab protocol and safety training for the project. Alyssa taught basic pipetting and gel electrophoresis to Ben, Connor, and Emma.
March 30, 2019
The iGEM team does a service project for WLC! We cleaned every lab in our science building, Generac Hall. It was an excellent bonding experience and helped the professors immensely.
June 9, 2019
Ben and Dr. Werner meet to discuss research. In the next few days they decide on a general plan to create the biosensor.
July 9, 2019
Achieved successful clones of pbrR, T7, and BSMT1.
August 6, 2019
Achieved successful clones of the entire system! All genes, prbR, pbrT, T7 promoter, and BSMT1 were successfully cloned and transformed into E. coli. We verified this by sequencing and gel electrophoresis.
October 5, 2019
Performed a western blot that turned showed some results, however proteins did not appear in the correct spots.
October 30, 2019
Will travel to Boston, present our research, and have a great time at the Jamboree! Despite less than desirable results.
January 22, 2019
Winter Org Smorg! Every semester at WLC, the campus hosts a smorgasbord of student lead organizations. The iGEM team was there in full force, recruiting new members and spreading awareness about lead contamination.
March 2019
Background research on lead contamination begins! Ben, Connor, and many other team members compile a large document filled with information about lead contamination and the symptoms of lead poisoning.
May 4, 2019
Members of the iGEM team help at the Milwaukee Undergraduate Biological Research Conference hosted by WLC. Specifically, team members helped with registration and logistical support, while getting to learn about all the exciting undergraduate research happening in the Milwaukee area.
June 20, 2019
After all the genes have arrived at WLC, Ben and Dr. Werner begin research. They began by confirming each gene and plasmid was the correct length.
July 10, 2019
Ran our first experiment! Added our transformed E. coli to a sample of water with a known concentration of lead, and then added a small amount of salicylate. Unfortunately, we did not smell anything. We presume that pbrT was needed for effective function.
September 27, 2019
Began western blots to test for protein expression.
October 11, 2019
Performed another western blot, after tweaking antibodies to hopefully show the correct proteins in the correct spots. Unfortunately, the proteins that showed on the blots were of the incorrect lengths, leading us to conclude that no proteins are being produced by our system.
