Our first collaboration was with Stony Brook University in New York, United States. Stony Brook reached out to collaborate in their outreach project of compiling a journal of scientific articles and highlighting different iGEM teams. Team Stony Brook 2022 tackled the issue of protein S deficiency, which is a genetic disorder of blood clotting. More information about Stony Brook’s project can be found here. Our team therefore submitted a two-page, double-spaced, non-technical article showing how our team is addressing social inequity.
Additionally, we designed an infographic for Stony Brook’s biosensor research. The infographic contained the Objective, Design, Application, and Quantification of: A Biosensor that will enable detection and quantification of protein S in blood samples. We came up with an Aptazyme-based design of the biosensor for Stony Brook. Furthermore, we made an animation of the project, which is shown below.
To help with our modelling, Team Stony Brook University gave us a mathematical guide for protein expression. They helped the team with the gold-sensing module. They used the hill function kinematics and ordinary differential equations (ODEs) to develop the sensing module (shown under modelling). They also used MATLAB to generate the graphs to show the various concentrations of gold that triggers our system. By modelling the gold sensing module, Stony brook gave us a template on how we could model our other systems (Arsenic and iron sensing modules). During the collaboration, both Ashesi and Stony Brook met via Zoom and communicated through email and Instagram.
The team also collaborated with Team Exeter of the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom. Team Exeter worked on synthesising recombinant silk proteins in E. coli and combining the fibres produced with reduced graphene oxide particles to produce a biocompatible, conductive composite. They used a graphene silk composite to help produce artificial tendons and nerves, and CAD-modelled a hand with finger parts (phalanges) that can move/contract. Our team’s collaboration to their project was to troubleshoot their CAD model and STL file to ensure no mistakes are incurred during 3-D printing of the model.
Team Exter sent us their STL file together with their CAD model which they had modelled in a software called Blender. Our team’s feedback to Team Exeter’s STL file was that they inverted their CAD model such that it would have a lower centre of mass. This would be of great help to ensure that the model does not overturn/topple over during the 3-D printing. In terms of the simulation of the hand movement, the team found no faults in Team Exeter’s design, assembly, and simulation. The CAD model was a job well done.
As a team, we had a slight difficulty modelling our iron sensing module. We sent Team Exeter our MATLAB file containing our models which we had modelled in SimBiology. Team Exeter modelled the gold sensing module following quantities: golS mRNA, golS protein, Au2+ ions, golS-Au2+ complex, amilGFP mRNA, amilGFP protein, Fraction of PgolB promoter regions bounded by golS-Au2+ complexes. From these quantities and parameters, they generated the governing equations, which we discussed with them during one of our meetings. Together, we built another gold sensing module and also managed to draw up differential equations for the Iron sensing module (results are shown in the Modelling section).
The team also collaborated with iGEM Patras, an iGEM team from the University of Patras in Greece. This year, iGEM Patras seeks to make a positive environmental impact through “Precision Agriculture using Genomics, Artificial Intelligence and Aerotransportable equipment” (PAGGAIA).
Team Patras reached out to us via email to collaborate on the translation of their Educational Comc “Synthetic Biology Mischief”. This comic book was written and designed by iGEM Patras, and they were seeking iGEM teams to translate the book into any language. As a team, we chose to translate the comic book into Twi - a Ghanaian local dialect. We chose Twi with the intent that after the translation, we may share the comic book with local schools to promote the field.
Our team had tremendous fun while translating the comic book. We are happy that this collaboration not only made us create an educational platform for Twi-speaking Ghanaians, but also tested our bilingual skills!
iGEM Patras gave us the go-ahead to print the comic books which we then shared with Berekuso Basic School, a primary school close to Ashesi University.
Team iGEM Navarra_BG from Spain reached out to us and other iGEM teams to participate in their drawing collage. They requested that we draw the Nicotiana benthamiana, the plant they were working with in their project this year. Team Navarra_BG collected drawings of the Nicotiana benthamiana from all over the world, as a sign of promoting world unity, and made a collage out of the pictures they received.
The team participated in the iGEM TIES (Team Interaction Study) research survey. The Team Interaction Study research focuses on social interactions and work organization within teams, and thus seeks to to understand how iGEM and scientific teams of all types can organize their work to be more creative and successful. As a team, we chose to fill the survey individually, and all the nine team members managed to fill the survey.
iGEM Navarra_BG from Spain carried out a survey to know more about other iGEM teams’ usage of electronic devices as sensors for air quality and using plants as a sustainable alternative. We are happy to have participated in the survey!
This year, iGEM Lund team 'Beecilli' worked on a project focused on protecting bees from pesticides, specifically glyphosate. They reached out to us and other iGEM teams to hear our thoughts on bees and genetically modified products from bees. All our team members filled this survey. We are happy to have contributed to iGEM Lund team’s project through filling their survey.
