Our Project

The objective for our school’s first iGEM project is to create a heat activated biosensor. When exposed to temperatures of 42 degrees Celsius or higher, our biosensor will emit a wintergreen smell.  The experience from this project will also serve as the building block for our long-term vision.

To create this biosensor, we will place a wintergreen odor enzyme generator (BBa_J45119) downstream from a heat sensitive promoter (BBa_KO98995). The wintergreen odor generator will only work when salicylic acid is present. This biobrick also produces a floral scent when in the presence of benzoic acid. We believe our project could be used to detect severe fevers, and would also be used to educate our community about the benefits of genetic engineering.

Our team’s long-term project consists of creating a thermal-wavelength biosensor. The project described in the paragraphs above will be our goal for the semester, and will help us gain the skills and knowledge to pursue more complex projects—such as a thermal-wavelength biosensor. To create this biosensor, we will string together BBa_K909001, BBa_K098995, BBa_K909003, BBa_R0082, and BBa_J45119, in that order. This will also emit a wintergreen odor, but will require heat as well as to be in the presence of a specific wavelength of light.