. NoteBook .
Dive into our iGEM 2023 adventure with XMU-China! It's not just a science notebook; it's a tale of sweat,
laughter, mentor wisdom, and the unbeatable thrill of teamwork. Our journey wasn't just about cells and
sequences; it was about passion, courage, and the relentless pursuit of science.
Last December to January
- XMU-China started a new round of recruitment!
- We shared synthetic biology knowledge and lots of excellent projects in iGEM
with college students in different majors. Each one who participates and completes the selection is the
BEST!
Met in February
- Our team was formally founded. This year, we got fourteen fresh faces on
board!
- By chance, we learned that extreme weather had been threatening agricultural
production in recent years. At this point, the project theme about anti-icing and anti-drought came into
our view. We were then divided into two groups, focusing on preventing frost and combating drought
issues respectively. We held meetings and discussed every weekend about everyone’s progress and solved
problems together.
April-May
- We learned the fundamental knowledge of molecular cloning and laboratory
qualities. After that, we were trained for molecular cloning operations, which helped us to design
experiments rationally.
- We optimized and constructed the sequences of the needed genes.
- We completed the original hypothesis testing experiments needed, then
consulted professors for advice. With their help, we gradually refined our project.
Ambition in March
- During the first-ever meetup of XMU-China 2023 friends, we celebrated a
fellow member's birthday. 242 days before Grand Jamboree, we made a golden prize wish.
April
- Brainstroming! Project design was gradually
improved.
Interview with Prof. Jianwei Lyu
- We interviewed Prof. Lyu at school of life science in Xiamen University. He
laid emphasis on the significance of biosafety to us.
May
- We learned the fundamental knowledge of molecular
cloning and laboratory qualities. After that, we were trained for molecular cloning operations, which
helped us to design experiments rationally.
- We drafted the original hypothesis testing experiments needed under
instruction.
May 6
- Naiads at its very inception.
June 9
- We proved that the two cryptic plasmid are in
Nissle 1917, and then we started to carry out CRIPSR/Cas9...(didn't know that this would be a great
torture in the next few months, SHIFT).
June 16
- Our very first group photo!
Interview with Prof. Dai Wang
- Breakthrough in biosynthesis of composite water
retaining agent! We finally confirmed to achieve control of the microbial composition by adjusting
antibiotic ratios. And Prof. Wang gave us a lot of advice on the design of HGT (horizontal gene
transfer) prevention as well.
July 2
- The birth of our goddess.
July 2
- Happy!!! The production of TmAFP is improved
significantly because changing the expressed strain from BL21 (DE3) to BL21 Star (DE3).
- Very luckily, we eliminated pMUT1. FANG was so happy. But she didn't know the
power of pMUT2.
July 15
- First successful characterization experiment within the team! Thanks to BBa_K4907132, thanks to the
Oxford Cup!
Water Resources Bureau
- We held a discussion with personnel from the Water Resources Bureau, where we gained insights into
existing methods for drought monitoring and prevention, further enhancing our project's background
knowledge.
July 28
- Our team had been successfully assigned to the new village this year: Agriculture!
July 31
- After countless mutations, VSW-3 RNAP (BBa_K4907114) is finally built!
Busy August
August 5
- The third time purification, we finally got a
satisfying protein gel map of CBM. TT was over-excited because it took her a month to do the damn job!
August 9
- Engineering Success! After adding a linker between Kp-SP and GFP, the fusion
protein emit fluorescence finally!
Xinfeng and Mount Wuyi field research
We went our separate ways - one heading to Xinfeng,
Jiangxi for soil frost damage research, and the other to Mount Wuyi, Fujian for soil drought research,
ultimately enhancing our project's background data. Surprise! A local farmer uncle mentioned that we
might be able to spread AFPs and water-retaining agents on crop leaves, providing us with an incredibly
new idea for our project implementation.
August 12
- We try try try, we fail fail fail.
The reason for the three-month-long experimental failures in constructing and characterizing the part
BBa_K4907145 turned out to be unbelievably stupid - the promoter was installed backward.
August 13
- Amazingly, just when I was about to give up VSW-3 RNAP, it worked. Was it
meant to be?
August 22
- Family who knows……Misfortunes never come alone. After a dramatic three-month
saga of construction and characterization of hrp genes, brace for this epic twist – the sequences used
were dead wrong, god!
August 27
- Finally, after two months of trials and failures,
pMUT2 had been eliminated!!! (roaring). Omg relB is so powerful ahhhhhhh!
August 30
- Construction of BBa_K4907140 is finished.
New September
September 10
- First operation of FermentX!
September 13
- Promotion Video, it's done.
September 10-September 20
- BBa_K4907123 were constructed and characterized
successfully which only took ONE time.
September 23
- We completely abandon the gene circuit building
of parE because of its hypertoxicity after struggling for three months...
September 24
- Xiang’an said goodbye to Siming, one last time.
September 30
- After trying five protocols with no success, TT
is so desperate for
J04450_pSB3C5 to grow in ECNP.
Sprint in October!
October 12
- Wiki FREEZE!!!
End in November
November 2-November 5
- Wish we all find the gem! In PARIS! End of
competition, infinite in friendship.
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