Line 48: | Line 48: | ||
<div class="frontleft"> | <div class="frontleft"> | ||
− | <div class="col-xs-2"> | + | <div class="col-xs-2 frontcomputer"> |
<img class="media object frontpics80" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/b/b4/T--DTU-Denmark--front-icon-11.png"> | <img class="media object frontpics80" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/b/b4/T--DTU-Denmark--front-icon-11.png"> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
Line 71: | Line 71: | ||
<div class="frontleft"> | <div class="frontleft"> | ||
− | <div class="col-xs-2"> | + | <div class="col-xs-2 frontcomputer"> |
<img class="media object frontpics50" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/d/d1/T--DTU-Denmark--front-icon-13.png"> | <img class="media object frontpics50" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/d/d1/T--DTU-Denmark--front-icon-13.png"> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
Line 97: | Line 97: | ||
− | <div class="frontleft"> | + | <div class="frontleft frontcomputer"> |
<div class="col-xs-2"> | <div class="col-xs-2"> | ||
<img class="media object frontpics50" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/9/9f/T--DTU-Denmark--front-icon-21.png"> | <img class="media object frontpics50" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/9/9f/T--DTU-Denmark--front-icon-21.png"> | ||
Line 105: | Line 105: | ||
<h4 class="media heading" style="color:#000;">The space shuttle would need to have the essentials for our fungus to be grown. | <h4 class="media heading" style="color:#000;">The space shuttle would need to have the essentials for our fungus to be grown. | ||
</h4> | </h4> | ||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="col-xs-2 frontmobile"> | ||
+ | <img class="media object frontpics60" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/a/a1/T--DTU-Denmark--front-icon-43.png"> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
Line 122: | Line 126: | ||
<div class="frontleft"> | <div class="frontleft"> | ||
− | <div class="col-xs-2"> | + | <div class="col-xs-2 frontcomputer"> |
<img class="media object frontpics60" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/7/72/T--DTU-Denmark--front-icon-23.png"> | <img class="media object frontpics60" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/7/72/T--DTU-Denmark--front-icon-23.png"> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
Line 129: | Line 133: | ||
<h4 class="media heading">Specific molds will let the fungus grow in a desired shape. Creating the pieces for the dome. | <h4 class="media heading">Specific molds will let the fungus grow in a desired shape. Creating the pieces for the dome. | ||
</h4> | </h4> | ||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="col-xs-2 frontmobile"> | ||
+ | <img class="media object frontpics60" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/a/a1/T--DTU-Denmark--front-icon-43.png"> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
Line 138: | Line 146: | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
− | <div class="col-xs-2"> | + | <div class="col-xs-2 frontcomputer"> |
<img class="media object frontpics80" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/1/10/T--DTU-Denmark--front-icon-24.png"> | <img class="media object frontpics80" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/1/10/T--DTU-Denmark--front-icon-24.png"> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
Line 162: | Line 170: | ||
<div class="frontleft"> | <div class="frontleft"> | ||
− | <div class="col-xs-2"> | + | <div class="col-xs-2 frontcomputer"> |
<img class="media object frontpics80" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/2/2b/T--DTU-Denmark--front-icon-31.png"> | <img class="media object frontpics80" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/2/2b/T--DTU-Denmark--front-icon-31.png"> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
Line 169: | Line 177: | ||
<h4 class="media heading" style="color:#000;">Plate production will be established inside a provisional inflatable tent. | <h4 class="media heading" style="color:#000;">Plate production will be established inside a provisional inflatable tent. | ||
</h4> | </h4> | ||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="col-xs-2 frontmobile"> | ||
+ | <img class="media object frontpics60" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/a/a1/T--DTU-Denmark--front-icon-43.png"> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
Line 186: | Line 198: | ||
<div class="frontleft"> | <div class="frontleft"> | ||
− | <div class="col-xs-2"> | + | <div class="col-xs-2 frontcomputer"> |
<img class="media object frontpics70" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/9/96/T--DTU-Denmark--front-icon-33.png"> | <img class="media object frontpics70" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/9/96/T--DTU-Denmark--front-icon-33.png"> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
Line 193: | Line 205: | ||
<h4 class="media heading">Growth in a confined place will let the fungus achieve the desired shape. | <h4 class="media heading">Growth in a confined place will let the fungus achieve the desired shape. | ||
</h4> | </h4> | ||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="col-xs-2 frontmobile"> | ||
+ | <img class="media object frontpics60" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/a/a1/T--DTU-Denmark--front-icon-43.png"> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
Line 227: | Line 243: | ||
<div class="frontleft"> | <div class="frontleft"> | ||
− | <div class="col-xs-2"> | + | <div class="col-xs-2 frontcomputer"> |
<img class="media object frontpics80" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/2/2e/T--DTU-Denmark--front-icon-41.png"> | <img class="media object frontpics80" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/2/2e/T--DTU-Denmark--front-icon-41.png"> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
Line 234: | Line 250: | ||
<h4 class="media heading" style="color:#000;">Our design will be created as a dome from three different triangular shapes. | <h4 class="media heading" style="color:#000;">Our design will be created as a dome from three different triangular shapes. | ||
</h4> | </h4> | ||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="col-xs-2 frontmobile"> | ||
+ | <img class="media object frontpics60" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/a/a1/T--DTU-Denmark--front-icon-43.png"> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
Line 251: | Line 271: | ||
<div class="frontleft"> | <div class="frontleft"> | ||
− | <div class="col-xs-2"> | + | <div class="col-xs-2 frontcomputer"> |
<img class="media object frontpics60" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/a/a1/T--DTU-Denmark--front-icon-43.png"> | <img class="media object frontpics60" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/a/a1/T--DTU-Denmark--front-icon-43.png"> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
Line 258: | Line 278: | ||
<h4 class="media heading">For this, a layer of sand, mixed with a modified version of biocement, will be placed on top of the dome. | <h4 class="media heading">For this, a layer of sand, mixed with a modified version of biocement, will be placed on top of the dome. | ||
</h4> | </h4> | ||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | <div class="col-xs-2 frontmobile"> | ||
+ | <img class="media object frontpics60" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/a/a1/T--DTU-Denmark--front-icon-43.png"> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
</div> | </div> |
Revision as of 09:20, 1 October 2018
Fungal building materials for extreme environments
Colonization of uninhabitable areas, like Mars, will require building materials to be transported to the site of deployment. Transport limitations such as space and weight make this process very expensive. Based on these challenges, we propose to make building materials from fungal mycelium to be grown on site. Therefore, our project is focused on how to optimize the material properties of the fungi through engineering of basic fungal characteristics. Our initial studies identified Aspergillus oryzae as the best candidate chassis for material properties and ease of genetic engineering. Based on our choice of fungi, we decided to increase the gene expression of melanin to improve A. oryzae’s capabilities of withstanding UV radiation and change the colors of the fungi by inserting a blue chromoprotein gene. Furthermore, we have designed a final geometric structure that can withstand external conditions and reduce the amount of work needed to assemble it.
The Plan
PHASE ONE - preparations on Earth
We’d begin by having the fully prepared fungus species ready for launch.
Data confirming that the proper genes in the GMO fungus will be collected.
A clear model of the structure would be confirmed and tested for the necessary exposure.
PHASE TWO - Inventory
The space shuttle would need to have the essentials for our fungus to be grown.
Vials of spores from our GMO fungus would be prepared and a necessary means of biomass, most likely cyanobacteria, will be included.
Specific molds will let the fungus grow in a desired shape. Creating the pieces for the dome.
General laboratory tools will have to be included to perform the needed work.
PHASE THREE - producing the sheets
Plate production will be established inside a provisional inflatable tent.
Biomass and spores will be combined in easy-to-manage molds.
Growth in a confined place will let the fungus achieve the desired shape.
When the mold is appropriately filled, the fungus will be extracted and killed as preparation for the building process.
PHASE FOUR - assembly
Our design will be created as a dome from three different triangular shapes.
The actual structure will be from the dome itself, but it will not be able to counteract the inner pressure from our man made atmosphere.
For this, a layer of sand, mixed with a modified version of biocement, will be placed on top of the dome.
To create the atmosphere, cyanobacteria will be kept cultivated inside the dome.
Challenges
Growth of the fungi in Mars temperatures can prove to be a problem.
The fungal spores may be troublesome: They might smell and A. oryzae is an allergen(1).
Need to ask the physicist and mycolab for any met/known problems
(1) Mousavi B, Hedayati MT, Hedayati N, Ilkit M, Syedmousavi S. 2016. Aspergillus species in indoor environments and their possible occupational and public health hazards. Curr Med Mycol 2:36–42.