Team:Duke
Hello! We’re the Duke iGEM!
We are group of undergrads that came together because we are really passionate about synthetic biology. We spent our summer working on synthesizing Taxol. We learned a lot about bioengineering and had fun doing it.
CANCER MEDICINE PLANT IN SHORT SUPPLY
The main Taxol plant (Taxus Bervifolia) is few in number
Duke iGEM engineers and grows bacteria through humane methods to provide infinite supplies of taxol to treat cancer
How to Produce Lots of
Cancer Drugs Sustainably?
Presented by Duke iGEM 
Identifying Cancer Drug in Short Supply
Our case is taxol, a famous chemotherapy drug that derives its chemistry from Pacific Yew Tree barks.
Annotated Taxol 2D Structure (3D Structure in Project Page)
PDB Citation: Bank, RCSB Protein Data. "TAXOL." RCSB PDB. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2016.
The lack of chemotherapy drugs risks patients' lives. Taxol is a famous and effective cancer drug whose production rests on the steady supply of Pacific Yew Trees. However, as more people develop cancer, Pacific Yew Trees are being overharvested and endangered.
In the forseeable future, there will be fewer Yew Trees. Taxol will become less affordable for patients. Worse, when Yew Trees become extinct, Taxol will lose its most essential ingredient. What can we do?
After an analysis of Yew Trees' genetic structure relevant to taxol production, we identified eight transferrable essential genetic sequences for producing taxol ingredients.
Therefore, it's possible to reinvent taxol production. The next important step is to find the perfect replacement producer to relieve the Yew Trees of their noble duty.
Rethink the Production Process
New producer will dramatically increase taxol production, allow Pacific Yew Trees a permanent break from overharvest and danger of extinction.
Bacteria!
Bacterial Production in a controlled lab is safe and sustainable, with a dramatically larger yield!
At Duke iGEM, we have already begun the process of sequentially arranging these genes and growing bacteria with these new powers.
We believe our idea is implementable and has a revolutionary positive impact on future treatments of cancer, saving more lives at a lower cost.
