1. Nathan Reyna, Biology Jeff Matocha, Computer Science Ouachita Baptist University Kentuck-E. Derby

2. Project Goals Active, hands-on approach to teaching basic biology and computer science concepts Active, hands-on approach to teaching basic biology and computer science concepts Encourage abstract thinking Encourage abstract thinking Keeps students/faculty engaged in a semester long project. Keeps students/faculty engaged in a semester long project. Have fun Have fun

3. Project Overview Goal Goal – To engineer a biological “wire” capable of propagating a chemical signal down its length Initial Signal

4. Harvard iGEM 2005 Orr Ashenberg Patrick Bradley Connie Cheng Chris Doucette Hing Eng Jennifer Gao Kang-Xing Jin Yin Li Thomas Noriega Daniel Popper Alexander Rush Yves Wang Doh!

5. Requirements Inducible Promoter Inducible Promoter Product/Signal that activates promoters in other cells Product/Signal that activates promoters in other cells – Secrete product outside of cell Cell to cell communication/Quorum sensing Cell to cell communication/Quorum sensing Detection Method Detection Method

6. Method Signal: acyl-homoserine lactones (AHL) used in bacterial quorum sensing Signal: acyl-homoserine lactones (AHL) used in bacterial quorum sensing – Lux system: 3OC6HSL – Las system: 3OC12HSL – Sender device Other promoters associated with cell to cell communication Other promoters associated with cell to cell communication – Most are “in planning” stage – LacI generator – LacI promoter

7. Harvard’s Conclusions Conclusions Conclusions – Degradation tags, RBS/promoter strength may need fine-tuning – Because of positive feedback, noise is amplified – Further experiments necessary

8. GFP production across plate GFP production across plate Change in pH gradient Change in pH gradient Vernier conductivity probe Vernier conductivity probe – Senses changes in pH – Connects to a computer – Currently use probes in Freshman Bio and Gen Chem Tracking the Horses

9. Data acquisition Data acquisition – interfacing with probes Data reporting Data reporting CS student projects

10. Computer Science Time

11. Not just a one heat race Reduce pathway bottlenecks Reduce pathway bottlenecks Diffusion rates/distance between cells Diffusion rates/distance between cells

12. Questions What promoter/signal pairs do we have? What promoter/signal pairs do we have? Are they secreted outside the cell? Are they secreted outside the cell?