Bryan Hernandez: Difference between revisions
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'''Project Goals''' | '''Project Goals''' | ||
[[Sortostat]] | *[[Bryan Hernandez/UROP Proposal|UROP Proposal]] | ||
*[[Sortostat]] | |||
#Debug a microfluidic chemostat ([[Sortostat]]) to improve the time-varying specific selection of cell populations. | #Debug a microfluidic chemostat ([[Sortostat]]) to improve the time-varying specific selection of cell populations. | ||
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===Device Longevity Characterization=== | ===Device Longevity Characterization=== | ||
*It is known that mutations are more likely to occur with a higher amounts of cell divisions. Everytime a cell divides it runs the risk of making a mistake in the replication process and creating a mutant cell. Evolution is largely in debt to this phenomonon; without mutants an organism's genome would be largely static. However, beneficial this might be to the survival of a cell species, it poses a problem for our genetically engineered cells. If a cell divides and mutates in the process it could be that the mutation "breaks" our engineered genetic device. The cell will likely go on living, however, it will cease to perform its intended function. This is an unfortunate reality of biological engineering, and as such, we must learn the characteristics of our devices and their liklihoods of "breaking." | *It is known that mutations are more likely to occur with a higher amounts of cell divisions. Everytime a cell divides it runs the risk of making a mistake in the replication process and creating a mutant cell. Evolution is largely in debt to this phenomonon; without mutants an organism's genome would be largely static. However, beneficial this might be to the survival of a cell species, it poses a problem for our genetically engineered cells. If a cell divides and mutates in the process it could be that the mutation "breaks" our engineered genetic device. The cell will likely go on living, however, it will cease to perform its intended function. This is an unfortunate reality of biological engineering, and as such, we must learn the characteristics of our devices and their liklihoods of "breaking." | ||
Revision as of 15:45, 17 February 2006
Bio
- I am currently a UROP in the Endy Lab working with Jason Kelly.
- Class of 2009; Majoring in Mathematics and Biological Engineering.
- NorCal=home
Projects
Sortostat
- We are currently using strain MC4100 E.Coli capable of expressing CFP and YFP (Cyan Fluorescent Protein and Yellow Fluorescent Protein, contained on plasmid pSB1A2 ) as these are easily distinguished between visually thereby aiding in our descriminitive assortment without relying on chemical selection. In this way, it is less likely for cells to avoid being sorted by a genetic mutation as one might expect using an antibiotic.
- Chemostat Theory
- Sortostat/Experiments
- Sortostat/Growth Tests
...
Project Goals
- Debug a microfluidic chemostat (Sortostat) to improve the time-varying specific selection of cell populations.
- Currently troubleshooting problems: i) Cell Death after 3-4 days (presumably due to oxygen depletion,) and ii) Inaccurate cell counts due to poor image processing.
- Evaluate the response of populations of E.Coli cells containing engineered genetic circuits (http://parts.mit.edu) to particular selective pressures using the Sortostat.
Device Longevity Characterization
- It is known that mutations are more likely to occur with a higher amounts of cell divisions. Everytime a cell divides it runs the risk of making a mistake in the replication process and creating a mutant cell. Evolution is largely in debt to this phenomonon; without mutants an organism's genome would be largely static. However, beneficial this might be to the survival of a cell species, it poses a problem for our genetically engineered cells. If a cell divides and mutates in the process it could be that the mutation "breaks" our engineered genetic device. The cell will likely go on living, however, it will cease to perform its intended function. This is an unfortunate reality of biological engineering, and as such, we must learn the characteristics of our devices and their liklihoods of "breaking."
