Team:ArtScienceBangalore/Aproach

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       <h1>Our Approach</h1>
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         <li><a href="https://2009.igem.org/Team:ArtScienceBangalore/Team">The Team</a></li>
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         <li><a href="https://2009.igem.org/Team:ArtScienceBangalore/Aproach">Aproach</a></li>
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         <li><a href="https://2009.igem.org/Team:ArtScienceBangalore/Project">The Project</a></li>
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         <li><a href="https://2009.igem.org/Team:ArtScienceBangalore/Project">Project</a></li>
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Focused on the ideology of making science accessible to the non-scientific community, we experimented with the Do-It-Yourself approach of working.
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We consider ourselves amateurs/novices within the context of the IGEM competition. Our endeavor as “outsiders” is to bring our training in the arts and design to synthetic biology. Over this summer, we learnt the tools and techniques of synthetic biology and developed a piece of life which reflects our concerns, namely, the cultural, ethical and aesthetic implications of Synthetic Biology. Using a <a href ="http://hackteria.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page" >DIY</a> approach and getting our hands “wet” was a critical element in the learning process. Our construct synthesizes Geosmin, an enzyme normally produced by cyanobacteria and actinobacteria. The biosynthesis of geosmin from farnesyl diphosphate is catalyzed by a single enzyme germacradienol/germacrene D synthase.E. coli, does not bear a gene that codes for this enzyme. We have expressed this gene in different strains of E. coli. Geosmin is responsible for producing the earthy smell when rain falls after a dry spell of weather.
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We began with familiarizing ourselves with the nature of DIYBio and dipped our hands in beginner level scientific procedures that introduced us to the building blocks of the seemingly hurdle -filled stream that we were trying to pursue. From building our own gel electrophoresis chamber in our self constructed backyard bio lab in an Art and Design school campus to conducting gel electrophoresis in a professional lab, we played with the boundaries of the DIY style of working. A three time failure at an attempt to experiment with cell lysis followed and so did a deep insight into the skills of being a lab practitioner. We delved into process of science.
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The symbiosis of the two apparently distinct streams of art and science, both in thought and in action lead us to a personal insight about the what, why and how of the things we do. That art and science are both born of the same plant of creative thought and any creation, artistic or scientific calls for a combination of these two ways of thinking was an understanding we naturally developed in the due course of the work we did.
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<strong>Some of our initial brainstorms</strong>
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[[Image:Whiteboard.jpg|820px|none|Click for a closer look]]
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<strong>What we did over the summer</strong><br>
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Will an open source work ethic contribute to breaking the barriers of science that cordons off amateur, non scientific bio enthusiasts in art institutes, in hobby clubs, in public schools or on the street? This took us to places like Drishya and the National Institute of Design, the former, a school for the underprivileged in Bangalore and the latter, India’s first design research institute.
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Armed with scientific knowledge that we had gathered from peering over books, research papers, friends and guides undertaking advanced studies in biology and the internet, we set out to share what we had learnt through day long workshops with people as varied as seven year old kids, art professors, performance artists to students of advanced studies in Industrial design.
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We found success in the fact when people completely disconnected from the field related to the project and valued the importance of what we were trying to do.
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Latest revision as of 21:13, 21 October 2009

Our Approach

We consider ourselves amateurs/novices within the context of the IGEM competition. Our endeavor as “outsiders” is to bring our training in the arts and design to synthetic biology. Over this summer, we learnt the tools and techniques of synthetic biology and developed a piece of life which reflects our concerns, namely, the cultural, ethical and aesthetic implications of Synthetic Biology. Using a DIY approach and getting our hands “wet” was a critical element in the learning process. Our construct synthesizes Geosmin, an enzyme normally produced by cyanobacteria and actinobacteria. The biosynthesis of geosmin from farnesyl diphosphate is catalyzed by a single enzyme germacradienol/germacrene D synthase.E. coli, does not bear a gene that codes for this enzyme. We have expressed this gene in different strains of E. coli. Geosmin is responsible for producing the earthy smell when rain falls after a dry spell of weather.

The symbiosis of the two apparently distinct streams of art and science, both in thought and in action lead us to a personal insight about the what, why and how of the things we do. That art and science are both born of the same plant of creative thought and any creation, artistic or scientific calls for a combination of these two ways of thinking was an understanding we naturally developed in the due course of the work we did.

Some of our initial brainstorms

Click for a closer look

What we did over the summer

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