Our team worked in the lab during the fall of 2022, with just 5 members physically conducting wet lab research at the J. Craig Venter Institute. Meanwhile, our hardware team worked with what materials were available to construct our bioreactor and eco-plate. We included a brief timeline of our lab and hardware process over the period of time we spent working.
After extensive planning and design and the arrival of our materials, we began construction on our bioreactor. We approached the construction by dividing each mechanical function of the machine into singular tasks, which we tackled one by one. For each component of the bioreactor, we verified the usability, developed the Arduino code, and tested the code, before making any necessary changes. Our first step was troubleshooting the pump motors with the arduino. Afterwards, we continued the same process of troubleshooting and setting up for the pH sensor, and temperature sensor. We were unable to afford the purchase of an O2 sensor and continuous monitoring pH sensor.
After extensive planning and design and the arrival of our materials, we began construction on our bioreactor. We approached the construction by dividing each mechanical function of the machine into singular tasks, which we tackled one by one. For each component of the bioreactor, we verified the usability, developed the Arduino code, and tested the code, before making any necessary changes. Our first step was troubleshooting the pump motors with the arduino. Afterwards, we continued the same process of troubleshooting and setting up for the pH sensor, and temperature sensor. We were unable to afford the purchase of an O2 sensor and continuous monitoring pH sensor.
We finished the final component of the heater and troubleshooted specifically the oxygenation feature from one of the perilastic pumps. Afterwards, we began the final assembly of all components.
Our goal for this period was to conduct our snail yeast preference procedures many times possible to generate data with the least variability. We gathered replicative data on snail preference in multiple runs of our yeast preference procedures. For the first two days, we conducted the control tests using the non-tampered lettuce pieces. Afterwards, all testing was done using the experimental setup with W303 S. cerevisiae. For the duration of the entire period, we ran into consistent trouble with activating the snails in order to conduct the experiments in a timely manner. Using warm water to energize them worked with moderate success.
Continued final assembly and 3D printed the eco-plate.
Our goal for this period was to conduct the yeast microcosm survival procedure to determine if our proposed implementation of W303 yeast in the environment would be able to withstand water conditions. Our first iteration of the experiment failed on the oversight of plating the W303 yeast in CM Broth plates without URA. After 24 hours of no growth, the mistake was realized and the procedure repeated but also improved. We ran the second iteration with more accurate general and carbonate hardness and sampled for yeast survival up to the 48 hours mark.
Finished final assembly and testing.