Difference between revisions of "Team:Calgary/Human Practices"

 
(18 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 15: Line 15:
 
             padding-bottom: 10px !important;
 
             padding-bottom: 10px !important;
 
         }
 
         }
−
        .info-img {
+
 
−
            padding-left: 10%;
+
−
            padding-right: 10%;
+
−
            padding-bottom: 1%; 
+
−
            width: 100%;
+
−
        }
+
 
     </style>
 
     </style>
 
</head>
 
</head>
Line 40: Line 35:
 
                 </h3>
 
                 </h3>
 
                 <h5>
 
                 <h5>
−
                     Subtitle Here
+
                      
 
                 </h5>
 
                 </h5>
−
                 <p> CRISPR/Cas9 induces targeted breaks into DNA, allowing for the insertion of
+
                 <p> In line with the collaborative nature of scientific work, the team worked with three other teams to build better projects. We helped the Notre Dame Collegiate high school team with running imperative assays for their project and assisted with their graphic design. Collaboration with the University of Lethbridge team aided both teams in the development of their projects and determined direct applicability of each project into the other. Cooperation with the Queens Canada team provided us with advice on some of the technical aspects of our project’s progression.
−
                    foreign DNA sequences into the break site. This method was selected for its targeted insertion
+
−
                    ability to knock-in a Flp recognition target (FRT) site into the genome, opening the door to
+
−
                    recombination in later steps. The FRT site can be thought of as a target, marking out a site in the
+
−
                    genome for precision targeting by recombinase in the following stage. While the maximum knock-in
+
−
                    size of CRISPR/Cas9 insertion is limited, the small size of our FRT site is not predicted to cause
+
−
                    any
+
−
                    errors.
+
 
                 </p>
 
                 </p>
 
                 <a href="https://2018.igem.org/Team:Calgary/Collaborations"><button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-dark">Read
 
                 <a href="https://2018.igem.org/Team:Calgary/Collaborations"><button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-dark">Read
Line 61: Line 49:
 
                 </h3>
 
                 </h3>
 
                 <h5>
 
                 <h5>
−
                     Subtitle Here
+
                      
 
                 </h5>
 
                 </h5>
 
                 <p>
 
                 <p>
−
                    After CRISPR places the FRT site into the genome, recombination can begin. FlpO recombinase is
+
                  By engaging with three main impact groups: researchers, students, and the public, we were able to communicate our project and address concerns surrounding synthetic biology in the community. We began our public engagement adventure with a faculty talk outlining our project plans to researchers at the U of C. Through the summer, we engaged with high school students by creating a curriculum and lesson plan, and gave a graphic design workshop to an iGEM team in need. Last but not least, the general public was engaged through public science events and a meeting with spiritual leaders in our community.
−
                    an enzyme which causes the exchange of two pieces of DNA, provided both contain the same FRT
+
                  Additionally, attendance at conferences provided opportunities for collaboration and valuable advice from synthetic biology entrepreneurs and iGEM alumni.
−
                    site. Thus, by providing recombinant DNA containing the same FRT site as the one inserted into the
+
−
                    genome using CRISPR, FlpO will integrate the recombinant DNA into the genome. Our
+
−
                    FlpO recombination system also involves a second recombination protein known as Beta resolvase.
+
−
                    Following the initial recombination mediated by FlpO, Beta performs a second recombination which
+
−
                    removes the undesirable sequences contained on the recombinant plasmid, as well as its FRT site.
+
−
                    Not only does this clean up the final insert, but it prevents the insert from being removed by FlpO
+
−
                    down the road. If the CRISPR stage of the project is thought of as placing a target in the genome,
+
−
                    the recombinase stage is firing DNA at the target for integration.
+
 
                 </p>
 
                 </p>
 
                 <a href="https://2018.igem.org/Team:Calgary/Public_Engagement"><button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-dark">Read
 
                 <a href="https://2018.igem.org/Team:Calgary/Public_Engagement"><button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-dark">Read
Line 90: Line 70:
 
                     SAFETY
 
                     SAFETY
 
                 </h3>
 
                 </h3>
−
                <h5>
+
              <h5>
−
                    Subtitle Here
+
 
                 </h5>
 
                 </h5>
−
                 <p>Gene inserts are at risk of being rendered ineffective even after successful integration into the
+
                 <p>Safety was actively considered prior to and during the completion of laboratory experiments.  Specific training and procedures were adopted for work with E.coli  DH5-alpha and HEK293T cells. Safety concerns regarding the potential applications of our project  were also investigated and managed.
−
                    genome, as the spread of heterochromatin and DNA methylation can cause gene silencing. Furthermore,
+
−
                    regulatory elements within both the insert and genome near the locus of integration may interact
+
−
                    bidirectionally, leading to changes in gene expression known as neighbourhood effects.
+
−
                    Chromatin-modifying elements (CMEs) can help to generate an isolated, protected pocket within the
+
−
                    genome,
+
−
                    thereby assuring stable and sustained expression of integrated genes within eukaryotic systems.
+
  
 
                 </p>
 
                 </p>
Line 112: Line 85:
 
         <div class="row">
 
         <div class="row">
 
             <div class="col-lg-5 info">
 
             <div class="col-lg-5 info">
−
                 <img style="width: 100%" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/b/bd/T--Calgary--Safety.png">
+
                 <img style="width: 100%" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/e/eb/T--Calgary--hpIntegration.png">
 
             </div>
 
             </div>
 
             <div class="col-lg-7 info">
 
             <div class="col-lg-7 info">
Line 122: Line 95:
 
                 </h5>
 
                 </h5>
 
                 <p>
 
                 <p>
−
                   Our journey towards a safer gene therapy was shaped in large part by the exploration of the societal context with which our project exists. By considering the project’s applicability to current research, ethical debates, religious views and established public opinions, Snip, Equip, Flip, evolved over time.
+
                   Our journey towards a safer gene therapy was shaped by the exploration of the societal context in which our project exists. Snip, Equip, Flip evolved over time through careful consideration of the project’s applicability to current research, ethical debates, religious views and established public opinions.
 
</p><p>
 
</p><p>
−
Addressing foreseeable societal concerns, our system was designed within an ex vivo, non-viral approach. However, in meeting with the Spiritual Care Advisory Committee at Alberta Health Services it was apparent that we had not considered all concerns. Alterations of the natural order such as enhancement, or cultural eradication were explored. We discovered that within a strictly therapeutic context, Snip, Equip, Flip’s implications as a biotechnology opens the door to a world of poorly defined regulations and safety concerns that we as undergraduate students were not equipped to handle.
+
Addressing foreseeable societal concerns, our system was designed with an ex vivo, non-viral approach. However, we found through meeting with the Spiritual Care Advisory Committee at Alberta Health Services that we had not yet explored other issues, such as the alteration of natural order by enhancement, or cultural eradication. Within a strictly therapeutic context, Snip, Equip, Flip’s implications as a biotechnology opens the door to a world of poorly defined regulations and safety concerns that we as undergraduate students were not equipped to handle.
 
</p><p>
 
</p><p>
−
Discussions with Dr. Ian Lewis and Dr. Walter Glannon guided our team to consider framing our project within a research context. Within this new framework ethical considerations were in Dr. Glannon’s eyes irrelevant, based on the work we have done and within the constraints we have set upon ourselves. Further, Dr. Lewis saw much more value in our project as a foundational tool to biological advancement than solely set within a therapeutics setting, thus increasing the reach of the project.
+
Discussions with Dr. Ian Lewis and Dr. Walter Glannon guided our team to consider framing our project in a research context. By reworking our project to be a foundational tool to biological advancement, we are faced with fewer ethical issues and can expand the reach of our project beyond human genome modification.  
 
                 </p>
 
                 </p>
−
                 <a href="https://2018.igem.org/Team:Calgary/Gold_Integrated"><button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-dark">Read
+
                 <a href="https://2018.igem.org/Team:Calgary/Human_Practices/Gold_Integrated"><button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-dark">Read
 
                         more</button></a>
 
                         more</button></a>
 
             </div>
 
             </div>

Latest revision as of 01:46, 18 October 2018

Team:Calgary - 2018.igem.org/Human Practices

HUMAN PRACTICES


SILVER

COLLABORATIONS

In line with the collaborative nature of scientific work, the team worked with three other teams to build better projects. We helped the Notre Dame Collegiate high school team with running imperative assays for their project and assisted with their graphic design. Collaboration with the University of Lethbridge team aided both teams in the development of their projects and determined direct applicability of each project into the other. Cooperation with the Queens Canada team provided us with advice on some of the technical aspects of our project’s progression.

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

By engaging with three main impact groups: researchers, students, and the public, we were able to communicate our project and address concerns surrounding synthetic biology in the community. We began our public engagement adventure with a faculty talk outlining our project plans to researchers at the U of C. Through the summer, we engaged with high school students by creating a curriculum and lesson plan, and gave a graphic design workshop to an iGEM team in need. Last but not least, the general public was engaged through public science events and a meeting with spiritual leaders in our community. Additionally, attendance at conferences provided opportunities for collaboration and valuable advice from synthetic biology entrepreneurs and iGEM alumni.

SAFETY

Safety was actively considered prior to and during the completion of laboratory experiments. Specific training and procedures were adopted for work with E.coli DH5-alpha and HEK293T cells. Safety concerns regarding the potential applications of our project were also investigated and managed.


GOLD

INTEGRATED

Our journey towards a safer gene therapy was shaped by the exploration of the societal context in which our project exists. Snip, Equip, Flip evolved over time through careful consideration of the project’s applicability to current research, ethical debates, religious views and established public opinions.

Addressing foreseeable societal concerns, our system was designed with an ex vivo, non-viral approach. However, we found through meeting with the Spiritual Care Advisory Committee at Alberta Health Services that we had not yet explored other issues, such as the alteration of natural order by enhancement, or cultural eradication. Within a strictly therapeutic context, Snip, Equip, Flip’s implications as a biotechnology opens the door to a world of poorly defined regulations and safety concerns that we as undergraduate students were not equipped to handle.

Discussions with Dr. Ian Lewis and Dr. Walter Glannon guided our team to consider framing our project in a research context. By reworking our project to be a foundational tool to biological advancement, we are faced with fewer ethical issues and can expand the reach of our project beyond human genome modification.