As a student-run team comprised solely of undergraduates, we created and applied our project’s initial concept entirely on our own. Our Wet Lab team designed an aptamer-based fluorescence detection mechanism for real-time testing of water samples using an encapsulation method to maximize the degradation rate of microcystins using the mlr cassette of genes. The mlr genes were tagged with leader sequences for export via the twin-arginine translocase pathway and effectively produced the detection system. The Product Development team used CAD to create a bioreactor and a boat with a sampler and GPS to track the location of each sample site. The Policy and Practices (P&P) team worked to contact experts knowledgeable on the subject of harmful algal blooms, met with affected community members, and reached out to policymakers to discuss environmental impacts. In addition, P&P held numerous outreach and education events throughout the year and created an informational booklet that was distributed to other iGEM teams.
Cornell iGEM's reHAB would not have been made possible without the guidance of the advisors and organizations we worked with:
Our wet-lab research was conducted in Cornell Biomedical Engineering Instructional lab directed by Dr. Shivaun Archer. Dr. Archer provided us with all the necessary equipment including a gel imaging station, sterile hood, centrifuges, thermal cyclers, and vortexes. She also oversaw lab safety and trained new members on lab safety measures.
Dr. Jan Lammerding for advising our team and allowing us to use instrumentation in his lab for protein purification and DNA quantification. His guidance and advice on our experimental design was invaluable.
We'd like to thank Noah Mark and Stephen Penningroth from the Community Science Institute, Pat Crowley from the Merill Family Sailing Institute, Julie Lockhart from the Owasco Watershed Lake Association, Scott Van Gaasbeck from Under the Tree, the Cayuga Science Institute, and Deborah Dawson and the HABs Committee from the Tompkins County Legislature for providing us with their experience and community insight.
Professors Nelson Hairston, Shady Amin, Mark Wysocki, and David Erickson took the time to share their experience in various fields to tailor our project to be successful.
Lastly, we’d like to thank the following for their help and guidance:
- Integrated DNA technologies for generously donating base pairs
- Cornell's College of Engineering for the platform to participate in iGEM
- Professor Toby Doerr for allowing us the use of his plate reader