20.109(S09)/PinkWF: Difference between revisions
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==Resources Needed== | ==Resources Needed== | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
*http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v403/n6767/abs/403339a0.html | |||
Proteins bind to promoter regulatory sites to repress or activate expression. This results in two stable states: proteins (repressor) repress their own repressor, so they will remain stably expressed. But, switching is controllable switching: dominant repressor (state) can be de-activated with addition of inducer (IPTG, thermal shock, etc). This allows expression of the other repressor, and enables controllable state change of the system |
Revision as of 10:23, 6 May 2009
20.109 Research Proposal for Derek Ju and Alvin Chen
Project Overview
Our goal is to rewire a bacterium to "miniprep" itself, when given some sort of an external stimuli (such as sensing of dense cell growth). This project will serve the following purposes:
- Make the research process easier, cheaper, and more efficient for scientists working with bacteria.
- Most laboratory strains have been genetically modified for scientific use; however our bacteria would be the first to be modified to do an experiment on itself.
- Self-lysing of cells when dense cell growth is encountered - less chance for environmental contamination if genetically engineered bacteria escape from the lab
- Serve as an example of a way synthetic biology can be used for cellular control
- Be an application of using irreversible switches within genetic circuits
- Be an example of sensors being built into bacteria
Background
Research Problems and Goals
Project Details and Methods
Predicted Outcomes
Resources Needed
References
Proteins bind to promoter regulatory sites to repress or activate expression. This results in two stable states: proteins (repressor) repress their own repressor, so they will remain stably expressed. But, switching is controllable switching: dominant repressor (state) can be de-activated with addition of inducer (IPTG, thermal shock, etc). This allows expression of the other repressor, and enables controllable state change of the system