12/29/2020
The new iGEM team met for the first time and organizational things like weekly meetings and means of communication were discussed. Expectations were explained and the iGEM year was roughly planned out.
01/05/2021
Every member presented a successful iGEM project from the past by different teams and reviewed what aspects made it successful. Further ideas for public engagement, education, and collaboration were brainstormed. Past aspects like a newsletter and the postcard project were talked about.
01/12/2021
Responsibilities like mail, social media, and sponsoring were distributed. The implementation of public engagement and education was debated. Research for possible project ideas started and possible project directions included plant diseases, enzyme therapy, and bioluminescence-based biomarkers.
01/19/2021
Principal investigators who are available were looked for. Four possible project ideas were formed and the members divided the team into four smaller groups and assigned themselves to a project idea to do more research.
01/26/2021
An internal cloning tutorial was organized for members who have not had any experience with it so far. Project ideas were being narrowed down. It was planned to contact professors whose research is connected to our possible project ideas. Furthermore, the social media team has planned content for the coming months.
02/02/2021
For the first time companies were being contacted about sponsoring. The current progress on project proposals was presented.
02/09/2021
A date was set for the professor meeting to present our project ideas so far. At this point, two ideas have been chosen: a plant-gene-editing toolbox and the production of medical supplies with keratin.
02/18/2021
The responsibility for writing articles for the newsletter was divided. The planning of the professor meeting, like means of communication and a presentation, was organized. Deadlines to start lab work were set.
02/22/2021
The professor meeting took place, in which the two project ideas were presented and the members received constructive advice to choose a project.
02/23/2021
After getting input from the professors, the advantages and disadvantages of each project were discussed, and finally, it was decided to go with plant pathogen detection. Furthermore, it was talked about how the project could be implemented and more research was planned on methods and host/pathogen interaction.
03/02/2020
It was debated how working as a team and distribution of responsibilities could be improved. The election of student leaders was organized. Actual offers from Macherey-Nagel as a sponsor were received. More organizational things like equipment for an opentron, registration fee, and implementation of integrated human practices. Features of the project were discussed in more detail, like possible detection methods, experts, and the audience. The innovative part of the project was decided: pathogen forecast.
03/09/2021
The application for a Promega sponsoring was completed. Deadlines for the organization of the postcard project were set and outreach to experts was organized. More research into proactive biomonitoring was done, i.e. model host, model organism. Detecting different stresses with drones by biomonitoring a field was considered. It was contemplated to generate aptamers with SELEX. The implementation of the project in the lab was planned. Furthermore, the advantages and disadvantages of previously researched methods were weighed.
03/10/2021
Meeting with iGEM Bonn
03/15/2021
During the PI meeting, expectations and further meetings were discussed. It was explained how the project idea has changed from the last meeting with all professors.
03/16/2021
The responsibilities of the student leaders were determined. A detailed lab plan was created. Targets for detection were determined. The method of detection was set to be a sandwich lateral flow rapid test. A side project was introduced, which aims to identify promoters that react to stress and use fluorescent reporter proteins.
03/23/2021
It was discussed which track to compete in and also possible collaboration. More detailed SELEX protocols were established.
03/30/2021
Money for the iGEM registration was granted and the team was able to register. Storytelling for the project was considered. Also, the members split up into teams to do research more efficiently.
03/31/2021
The meeting with Prof. Dr. Meltem Avci-Adali took place, in which the team was advised on the SELEX procedures
04/06/2021
A statement of costs for our needs in the lab was created. While waiting for necessary materials, the members got to know common methods used in labs. A detailed lab plan with protocols was created. It was also decided to use gold nanoparticles for the detection method.
04/13/2021
More research was done into the detection method with gold nanoparticles and mechanisms. The modeling team discussed ideas about a heatmap and SELEX optimization.
04/20/2021
A meeting with an associate from opentron was organized. The medal criteria were checked again to direct the project in a better direction. A meeting with local farmers was organized to introduce the project idea to them,
04/22/2021
The meeting with Prof. Dr. Alga Zuccaro took place.
04/27/2021
Alternative methods to protein expression in E. coli were discussed. Also, the advisors went over experiment designs.
04/05/2021
It was discussed how the project corresponds so far with the given medal criteria. Another professor meeting was planned to discuss the current status of the project.
05/11/2021
The planning for the first experiments was finished. Collaboration was discussed during a meeting with iGEM Aachen and iGEM Bonn. The idea for a panel discussion was first mentioned
05/12/2021
The meeting with Prof. Dr. Mayer took place and the team received advice on aspects that could possibly endanger the detection process.
05/18/2021
The name for the project was thought about. Safety instructions at the labs were attended.
05/25/2021
The approximate cost for each test was calculated. Feedback was received from Prof. Dr. Djamei about proteins that could be used. Also, feedback by Prof. Dr. Mahlein about drone usage reached the team.
06/01/2021
The name CereX was decided on. The final stages of the postcard project were organized.
06/08/2021
The identity of the project was discussed for the promotional video. Ideas for a logo were brainstormed. During the meeting with Dr. Sommer, the team went over the pitch and decided to go with early diagnostics and prevention of diseases.
06/15/2021
The design and layout of the wiki were thought about. First logo ideas were displayed.
06/22/2021
The expression of a protein that needs to be detected was successful. Final preparations for the professor meeting were done. Questions for the meeting with associates from Bayer were prepared and the safety form was finished.
06/23/2021
The professor meeting took place. The team received a lot of useful advice on how to proceed and tips for the implementation of IHP.
06/29/2021
A meeting with Prof. Dr. Voegele took place. The team learned that pathogen differentiation is more useful than stress detection. The first shooting for the promotional video was done.
07/06/2021
First designs for postcards were thought about. The fulfillment of the medal criteria for education and HP were thought about.
07/13/2021
A collaboration by iGEM Calgary was discussed.
07/20/2021
A presentation of the project on the social media channels of PromegaGermany was organized.
07/27/2021
The design for the postcard was finished
08/03/2021
New protocols for cellSELEX were created. The members started to design the wiki.
08/10/2021
Aspects that make the project innovative were thought about. Medal criteria were looked over to avoid missing any.
08/17/2021
The PIs advised on how to improve certain protocols. The improvement of a part was started. The responsibility of writing texts for the wiki was split up. A moderator for the panel discussion was organized.
08/31/2021
The panel discussion was organized. A wiki party took place to write texts. Also, final things were planned for the panel discussion.
09/07/2021
A prototype of the wiki was designed. The lab books were revised. The title and abstract were written to be published on the iGEM site.
09/14/2021
The postcards were shipped to all participating teams. The presenters for the final presentation of our project were decided on. The escape room collaboration was finished.
09/21/2021
A final team roster was looked over and more wiki articles were finished.
09/28/2021
The safety form was finalized.
10/05/2021
Deadlines for the next few weeks were set and preparations for the wiki freeze were made.
10/12/2021
Final updates and revision of wiki texts.