Difference between revisions of "Team:HK SSC/Description"
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| − | <p class="MsoNormal | + | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span class="SpellE"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US">iGEM</span></b></span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US"> 2019 description<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> |
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| − | mso-ansi-language:EN-US"> 2019 | + | |
| − | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style=" | + | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: |
| − | + | EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> | |
| − | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style=" | + | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: |
| − | + | EN-US">Microcystis aeruginosa is one of the highly deleterious freshwater | |
| − | the highly deleterious freshwater cyanobacteria; it is well-known for causing | + | cyanobacteria; it is well-known for causing harmful algae blooms in rivers and |
| − | harmful algae blooms in rivers and lakes. These algae blooms produce a large | + | lakes. These algae blooms produce a large number of <span class="SpellE">microcystins</span> |
| − | number of <span class="SpellE">microcystins</span> and neurotoxins, which | + | and neurotoxins, which potentially leads to death of fish and human as well as |
| − | potentially leads to death of fish and human as well as contamination of fresh | + | contamination of fresh water. However, M. aeruginosa also poses ecological |
| − | water. However, M. aeruginosa also poses ecological value in oxygen synthesis | + | value in oxygen synthesis and absorption in heavy metal.<o:p></o:p></span></p> |
| − | and absorption in heavy metal.<o:p></o:p></span></p> | + | |
| − | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style=" | + | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: |
| − | + | EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> | |
| − | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style=" | + | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: |
| − | + | EN-US">We can see how these cyanobacteria have such a significant impact on the | |
| − | have such a significant impact on the aquatic system which could subject to | + | aquatic system which could subject to adverse impacts on the aquatic ecosystem |
| − | adverse impacts on the aquatic ecosystem as a whole. Take Lake <span class="SpellE">Taihu</span> as an example; the algae blooms are a serious threat | + | as a whole. Take Lake <span class="SpellE">Taihu</span> as an example; the algae |
| − | to drinking water supplies and agriculture supplies. Chinese ecologists and | + | blooms are a serious threat to drinking water supplies and agriculture |
| − | marine biologists describe the lake as the smell of decaying fish. In the | + | supplies. Chinese ecologists and marine biologists describe the lake as the |
| − | United States, such harmful cyanobacterial algae blooms have inflicted around 2 | + | smell of decaying fish. In the United States, such harmful cyanobacterial algae |
| − | billion USD a year in losses as the water is unfit for drinking, recreation and | + | blooms have inflicted around 2 billion USD a year in losses as the water is |
| − | agriculture.<o:p></o:p></span></p> | + | unfit for drinking, recreation and agriculture.<o:p></o:p></span></p> |
| − | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style=" | + | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: |
| − | + | EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> | |
| − | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style=" | + | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: |
| − | + | EN-US">Through investigation on the cause of algae blooms, we found out that | |
| − | of algae blooms, we found out that farmland and factories are usually built | + | farmland and factories are usually built next to rivers and lakes, as water is |
| − | next to rivers and lakes, as water is vital for both agriculture and industrial | + | vital for both agriculture and industrial uses. Since chemical fertilizers and |
| − | uses. Since chemical fertilizers and sewage all contain nitrates and | + | sewage all contain nitrates and phosphates, this catalyzes the reproduction of |
| − | phosphates, this catalyzes the reproduction of cyanobacteria such as | + | cyanobacteria such as Microcystis Aeruginosa. However, we realized that |
| − | Microcystis Aeruginosa. However, we realized that limiting the use of | + | limiting the use of fertilizers and the amount of sewage released from |
| − | fertilizers and the amount of sewage released from factories are impractical | + | factories are impractical because this would affect the efficiency of |
| − | because this would affect the efficiency of production.<o:p></o:p></span></p> | + | production.<o:p></o:p></span></p> |
| − | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style=" | + | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: |
| − | + | EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> | |
| − | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style=" | + | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: |
| − | + | EN-US">Therefore, instead of limiting the use of such fertilizers, our project | |
| − | use of such fertilizers, our project not only aims to mutate M. aeruginosa | + | not only aims to mutate M. aeruginosa through modifying its toxin-producing |
| − | through modifying its toxin-producing gene but also aims to characterize the | + | gene but also aims to characterize the cyanobacteria’s ability to absorb heavy |
| − | cyanobacteria’s ability to absorb heavy metal. Dcas9 is transformed into and | + | metal. Dcas9 is transformed into and co-expressed in the toxin-producing gene |
| − | co-expressed in the toxin-producing gene in Microcystis aeruginosa. As dcas9 | + | in Microcystis aeruginosa. As dcas9 serves the purpose to block transcription, |
| − | serves the purpose to block transcription, the transcription of the | + | the transcription of the toxin-producing gene cannot be carried out. Hence the |
| − | toxin-producing gene cannot be carried out. Hence the toxin-producing ability | + | toxin-producing ability of M. aeruginosa is eliminated.<o:p></o:p></span></p> |
| − | of M. aeruginosa is eliminated.<o:p></o:p></span></p> | + | |
| − | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style=" | + | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: |
| − | + | EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> | |
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| − | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"> | + | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><o:p> </o:p></p> |
| − | <p style=" | + | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><o:p> </o:p></p> |
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| − | <p style=" | + | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><o:p> </o:p></p> |
| − | <p | + | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%">Bibliography:</p> |
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| − | <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" | + | <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family: |
| − | " | + | "Times New Roman""><a href="https://e360.yale.edu/features/on_lake_taihu_china_moves_to_battle_massive_algae_blooms">https://e360.yale.edu/features/on_lake_taihu_china_moves_to_battle_massive_algae_blooms</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> |
| − | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150% | + | <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><o:p> </o:p></p> |
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| − | <p | + | <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family: |
| − | + | "Times New Roman""><a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11783-008-0062-4">https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11783-008-0062-4</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> | |
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| − | <p style=" | + | <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family: |
| − | + | "Times New Roman""><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3229228/">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3229228/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> | |
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| − | <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font- | + | <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family: |
| − | " | + | "Times New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> |
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| + | <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family: | ||
| + | "Times New Roman""><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15533019">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15533019</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> | ||
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| + | <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family: | ||
| + | "Times New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> | ||
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| + | <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family: | ||
| + | "Times New Roman""><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28862419">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28862419</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> | ||
<p style="margin-left:1.0cm;text-indent:-1.0cm"><span class="SpellE">Forastier</span>, | <p style="margin-left:1.0cm;text-indent:-1.0cm"><span class="SpellE">Forastier</span>, | ||
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Accessed 21 May 2019.</p> | Accessed 21 May 2019.</p> | ||
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Revision as of 13:07, 27 June 2019
iGEM 2019 description
Microcystis aeruginosa is one of the highly deleterious freshwater
cyanobacteria; it is well-known for causing harmful algae blooms in rivers and
lakes. These algae blooms produce a large number of microcystins
and neurotoxins, which potentially leads to death of fish and human as well as
contamination of fresh water. However, M. aeruginosa also poses ecological
value in oxygen synthesis and absorption in heavy metal.
We can see how these cyanobacteria have such a significant impact on the
aquatic system which could subject to adverse impacts on the aquatic ecosystem
as a whole. Take Lake Taihu as an example; the algae
blooms are a serious threat to drinking water supplies and agriculture
supplies. Chinese ecologists and marine biologists describe the lake as the
smell of decaying fish. In the United States, such harmful cyanobacterial algae
blooms have inflicted around 2 billion USD a year in losses as the water is
unfit for drinking, recreation and agriculture.
Through investigation on the cause of algae blooms, we found out that
farmland and factories are usually built next to rivers and lakes, as water is
vital for both agriculture and industrial uses. Since chemical fertilizers and
sewage all contain nitrates and phosphates, this catalyzes the reproduction of
cyanobacteria such as Microcystis Aeruginosa. However, we realized that
limiting the use of fertilizers and the amount of sewage released from
factories are impractical because this would affect the efficiency of
production.
Therefore, instead of limiting the use of such fertilizers, our project
not only aims to mutate M. aeruginosa through modifying its toxin-producing
gene but also aims to characterize the cyanobacteria’s ability to absorb heavy
metal. Dcas9 is transformed into and co-expressed in the toxin-producing gene
in Microcystis aeruginosa. As dcas9 serves the purpose to block transcription,
the transcription of the toxin-producing gene cannot be carried out. Hence the
toxin-producing ability of M. aeruginosa is eliminated.
Bibliography:
https://e360.yale.edu/features/on_lake_taihu_china_moves_to_battle_massive_algae_blooms
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11783-008-0062-4
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3229228/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15533019
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28862419
Forastier, Marina Elizabet, et al. “Occurrence and Toxicity of Microcystis Aeruginosa (Cyanobacteria) in the Paraná River, Downstream of the Yacyretá Dam (Argentina).” Revista De Biologia Tropical, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Mar. 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28862419. Accessed 21 May 2019.