Researched and identified two miRNA biomarkers
upregulated in
patients with Preeclampsia at 10 weeks, twice as soon as current methods allow.
Designed and characterised two design generations of
toehold
switches, including a novel AND-gate switch.
Designed a method for amplifying miR-210-3p and
miR-517-5p
isothermally.
Hardware Team
Designed and assembled a luminometer. Designed a
magnetic
bead-based miRNA extraction system.
The designed hardware utilises a luciferase assay to
determine
the result of our preeclampsia detection tests.
Software Team
Developed ToeholdTools, which contains
an
easy-to-use programmatic API for investigating the target RNA specificity of toehold
switches.
Modelling Team
Using Hill-Langmuir equations, the Modelling Team
developed a
Mass Action Kinetics model to predict complex formation.
NUPACK and cost models were also developed to build
on software
and implementation aspects of the project.
Human Practice Team
Contacting multiple professionals to verify and
improve our
project.
Conducted surveys to collect data and understand
methods to
raise awareness about preeclampsia.
Delivered lessons to younger years to teach about
DNA, genetics,
and synthetic biology.
Created leaflets and developed an app to update
people about the
latest preeclampsia news.
Finance Team
Delivering project presentations and proposals to
potential
sponsors, the Finance Team raised donations to fund our project.
Helped with the Implementation section of the
project, with
their extensive knowledge on business and economics.
BIOLOGY TECHNICIANS
Mrs Waite
Mrs Waite took a pivotal role in our project.
Without her help
in preparing our wet lab equipment, project RIBOTOX would not have existed. We pay
immense gratitude
for all the time she spent both during term time and the holidays to assist our iGEM
team.
Ms Tasnim
Ms Tasnim was crucial in the latter phase of our lab
work.
Despite the chaotic nature of our term-time lab work, our team managed to hold balance
thanks to her
involvement. Her unparalleled speed and accuracy in producing buffers and gels were
instrumental in
the successful completion of our lab work.
ADDITIONAL TEACHER SUPPORT
Dr Pattison
As the Head of Biology at City of London School, her
support and
guidance on aspects of Human Practices and Wet Lab were of great help to the team. We
also thank her
for lending her sacred incubator.
Mr Zivanic
As the ex-PI of the CLS iGEM team, his experience
and knowledge
in Synthetic Biology proved to be invaluable during our lab planning and troubleshooting
phases. As
the gaffer of the triumphant 2017 BATMAN team, he was a true role model for our
team.
Academics
Dr Wooli Bae (Imperial College)
Working as a researcher at the Department of
Bioengineering at
Imperial College, his extensive knowledge on nucleic acid structures and cell free
transcription/translation helped us decide on our in-vitro transcription method and kit.
He was also
of immense help in providing us an idea for our initial model.
Dr Ciara O’Sullivan
Helped with RPA protocols and kit preparation. See
Integrated
Human Practices for further details.
Dr Alex Green
Helped with Toehold Switch analysis and AND gate
work. See
Integrated Human Practices for further details.
Professor Basky Thilaganathan
Helped with Human Practices and medical advice. See
Integrated
Human Practices for further details.
Dr Anatoliy Markiv
Helped us with the characterization of our Toehold
Switches. We
also thank him for offering his lab with specialist equipment. See Integrated Human
Practices for
further details.
INSTITUTIONS
King's College London
See Integrated Human Practices for further
details.
The Preeclampsia Foundation
Validated and proof checked our project.
BMG Labtech
Lent us a luminometer to test our characterised
Toehold Switches
at Dr Anatoliy’s KCL lab.
Integrated DNA Technologies
Their generous 20k base pair funding to iGEM teams
helped us cut
down on costs.
Reviewers
Yashaar Daad and Louis Gringras
As award winning iGEMers and ex-iGEM team Student
Leaders, their
experience allowed them to give crucial feedback during our project selection and
finalisation
process. We wish them the best of luck in their further studies.
Lucas Czajka and Isaac Tolley
As two key members of the 2020 CLS_CLSG_UK team,
their honest
feedback helped us develop our project. We wish them the best of luck in their further
studies.
SPONSORS
Mr Hennigan
As a keen Biotechnology investor, his generous
funding played an
irreplaceable role for our project. Without his support and trust, Project RIBOTOX would
have met a
dead end.
The John Carpenter Club
As the alumni association of the City of London
School, their
donation helped us purchase key lab equipment.
Lady Heywood
As a parent of our team member, and a knowledgeable
investor,
her donation was the first of many, which ignited the engine for our project.
