Team:UNC Chapel Hill/20 May 2009

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This is part of the iGem site in the Team wiki: http://igem.org/Team_Wikis?year=2009  (Be sure to make an account if you haven't done so already) do everything when they come back in the fall. very student driven.
 * 1)  Shawn went to the iGem advisor workshop this past weekend.
 * 2)  The site 2009.igem.org has been updated and is being updated constantly.
 * 3)  We have received the DNA Distribution kit in the mail.  1000 ofthe post popular parts were given.  A list of the parts can be seen here:  http://partsregistry.org/Main_Page
 * 4)  As part of the project, we will need to keep a lab notebook.
 * 1)  Slides and the video from the workshop will be posted soon. These will be important.
 * 2)  Shawn was able to get a feel for the other teams in terms of their resources.  Most of the teams were like us; didn't really have funding and trying to get by.  Other teams are better with a consistent source of funding.  And others are worse; going to try to
 * 1)  You can do this project and get APPL 395 credit.
 * 2)  Our main goal right now is to get a project idea developed and finalized.  We want to start simple for this year.
 * 3)  Here are the results from last year:  http://igem.org/Results?year=2008 .  The most sophisticated project was probably Team Slovenia: http://2008.igem.org/Team:Slovenia  We probably do not want to do something like this (way too complicated).  The ideal project will be
 * 1)  We can make our own new part.  This would then be added to the iGem registry.
 * 2)  Prizes are awarded based mainly on well the project is characterized.  Sophistication is not too important.
 * 3)  We will be doing some form of transformation, most likely with E. Coli.
 * 4)  In order to help narrow in on a project, be sure to check out the previous year results and look at presentations and posters: http://igem.org/Results?year=2008
 * 5)  Scott suggested the book, Molecular cloning By Joseph Sambrook, for background information.  Available in Scott's lab. We'll be doing informal reviews and lectures throughout the summer to get everyone up to speed in terms of learning the material.
 * 6)  The most simple project that we can do, just to see if we can get it working, is doing a RFP transformation in E. Coli.  This would entail getting the gene for RFP and a promoter to see if we can the E.Coli to fluoresce red.
 * 7)  Parts are clear, defined components (think like circuit components).  They follow particular standards.  Understanding parts will be very important to the competition.
 * 8)  For project ideas, don't worry too much about another team doing the same thing.
 * 9)  Examples:  BBa_R0011 - this is a basic promoter for E. Coli. Here is the specific page:  http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_R0011 If you click through the page, you'll notice things such as the DNA sequence, the parameters need for the device, chassis that it works for, standards needed, and etc.  Stars indicate parts that we have already.
 * 10)  Gingko Bioworks (http://ginkgobioworks.com/) is a company that started based on the iGem Synthetic biology premise:  standardized parts for biology
 * 11)  Need to understand that there is a public perception that may be different from what a researcher may see.  Important to be cognizant about.
 * 12)  Safety.  May need to follow some protocol.
 * 13)  Should schedule a regular, (at least) weekly meeting.
 * 14)  Project is basically due 2 weeks before the Jamboree
 * 15)  Funding.
 * 16)  Need to set up an account to get funding.
 * 17)  It's okay if you don't understand everything right now. Feel free to interrupt or inform anyone else if you need clarification.