Overall Description

Standardization

Standardization plays an extremely important role in science experiments. There are multiple kinds of methods which will keep the lab results accurate.

1. Every protocol is read and followed carefully by group members and checked by each member.
2. Any indices should be the same unit and same figure.
3. Any experiment is better to hold two control groups. (one is 100% source, the other is 100% solution)
4. An ideal standardization experiment needs more than 3 repeating experiments.

Standardization is the process of developing and implementing technical standards. It can help to maximize compatibility, interoperability, safety, repeatability, or quality as well.

Goals

As a whole, the InterLab is trying to minimize variability across labs. Trying to further contribute amenity to the synthetic biological study, instead of measuring one fluorescent molecule, this year the IGEM teams are standardizing the optical measurement of the entire population of GFP (Green Fluorescent Protein) cells. Because ordinarily means to measure populated cells in optical devices have complicated process and uncertain results, this year, we are using massive data to verify if there is a method that can simplify the process and increase comparability.

The method that is been proving by our team is the one that if we can reduce lab-to-lab variability in fluorescence measurements by normalizing to absolute cell count or colony-forming units (CFUs) instead of OD

Experiment Process

Preparation

Carefully reading through the protocol is necessary for the preparation of the entire lab and getting materials that we need is required as well.

Setting Standards

We standardized the OD600 Reference point, Particle Standard Curve, and Fluorescence standard curve. We used E. coli K-12 DH5-alpha as well for the sake of consistency and reproducibility.

Cell Measurement

After the three steps of calibration, cell measurements should be starting. We followed 2018 iGEM’s InterLab Protocol to do the lab and to collect our results.

• Installation

We first transformed E.coli DH5α with plasmids provided in the IGEM tool box.

• Cultivation

We picked 2 colonies from each of the transformation plates and inoculated in 5-10 mL LB medium and Chloramphenicol. The cells grew overnight (16-18 hours) at 37°C and 220 rpm. And we measured the OD600 of both initial and final cells.

• Dilution

We poured in 1900μL of LB and Cam to make a 1:20 dilution for three times. Then we poured in 900μL of LB and Cam to make a 1:10 dilution twice and got three numbers of colonies and dilution factors from the last three dilution.

• Counting Colonies

We counted the number of colonies after dilution and multiplied it by the final dilution factor to calculate the total number of colonies.