Projects

These were the projects developed in the Summer of 2021:

Sickless Cells

Naya Gupta Fullerton, Vanessa Muller, Dylan Choi

We aim to give homozygous sickle cell patients a heterozygous advantage by correcting the hemoglobin mutation in some of their bone marrow stem cells through CRISPR technology. We designed a lentiviral vector to contain a specific gRNA and Cas9 gene, and designed an Arduino model to simulate the process of correcting the mutation and reinserting the stem cells back into the patient’s body. The presence of both sickle shaped and round red blood cells (after differentiation of the stem cells) ensures that the carriers benefit from healthy blood flow and resistance to malaria.

Enthusiastic Bioplastic

Adaleiz, Max, Brooke

The goal of this project is to use algae to create a bioplastic made of keratin that takes in greenhouse gases. The genetically modified algae would first take in greenhouse gases and sulfur, then grow (in a mold) into the necessary shape. At this point hydrogen peroxide would be added to turn the algae into keratin. After the mold is removed, the keratin would retain its shape and could be used as a bioplastic.

Skinsulin

Sreyan Sarkar, Jacob Lei, Noah Novick

Type 1 Diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a global epidemic that affects over 460 million individuals worldwide. Our mission was to provide a continuous and autonomous insulin treatment option to tackle high blood glucose levels in Type 1 Diabetic patients. To do this, we designed a genetically engineered staphylococcus epidermidis, a bacteria living underneath the skin, to produce, secrete, and regulate insulin levels in vivo for Type 1 Diabetic patients. To model this, we created a circuit diagram modeled through Arduino and a plasmid map with all the relevant standard biological parts.

Spider Sense

We designed a detection system for the presence of a toxic chemical, aflatoxin, found in mold and fungi. Any plant with the aflatoxin present will change color to alert of its presence using fluorescent protein. Next, we designed a program that could detect the color change via camera processing.

KEPPler

Ellie Kim, Kailee Kee, Phoenix He

We worked to create a more accessible breast cancer detection system, through an engineered, in vitro RNA circuit which can be used to detect the presence of cancer-indicating microRNAs in human cells. Once detected, the RNA circuit will produce fluorescence as a visual signal.

Pblue

Our project hopes to be an efficient and easily accessible way to detect lead in soil. The use of clovers, a very common plant, would replace the complex testing that is currently used to detect lead. Combining Rhizobium Trifolii’s affinity for nitrogen fixing with a lead biosensor to enhance the practicality of clovers will hopefully increase clover use in agriculture while maintaining safe soil for our crops.