1. iGEM 2010: Idea Brainstorm
Alejandro Virrueta

2. Topics/Problems
Create a standardized vesicular transport system. Uses: gene therapy studies, cellular transport studies, etc.
Long-distance signaling. Uses: Detection/radar, population dynamics, etc.

3. Mechanisms: Vesicular Transport
Choose a peptide sequence, which serves as an address. Fuse it to a protein sequence in DNA format. Insert plasmid into cell, express protein plus tag, protein directs to appropriate location.
Might expand to intercellular systems.
Standardize to facilitate targeting process.

4. Mechanisms: Long-Distance Communication
Idea 1) Add a chemical inducer. One cell population secretes protein 1, other population produces protein 2. These two proteins associate to form protein 3. Bacteria sense protein 3 and swim towards it.

5. Mechanisms: Long-Distance Communication
Idea 2) Form a neuronal circuit to transmit an electromagnetic wave. Might consist of 4 neurons, oriented anti-parallel to each other. Program in such a way as to control firing frequency to concentration of chemical inducer.

6. Mechanisms: Long-Distance Communication
Idea 3) Fluorescence emission and detection. A population of cells produces of a luminescent protein in vesicles, while another population of cells forms rows of light sensitive chemicals. Activation leads to directed motility.
Might be modified for specific wavelength recognition, or behavioral pattern.

7. Other Ideas
Modify cells to serve as electrical conduits for use in materials integration, i.e. neural prosthetics, brain-machine interfaces, etc.