Difference between revisions of "Team:Slovenia/Integrated Practices"
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Having lived with a chronic disease for most of their lives, the patients were perfectly willing to try another method that could help. More than anything they were excited over the possibility of not having to prick themselves with a needle several times a day. While we mostly presented the potential foundational advantages of the system and explained that arriving to the final working device might take years, they were kind enough to highlight some of their concerns connected to the system and suggestions we could integrate in the design. Understandably, they were mostly interested in safety and the way the device would be integrated into the body. They wanted to know in what ways their bodies would be protected from the modified cells and in how the cells in the device would be protected, as well as how we would make sure the system is not triggered randomly. While years from a possible final device, we paid attention and tried to find the solutions to their concerns. To separate the modified cells in the device from patient’s unaltered ones, we suggest microencapsulation of cells in alginate capsule, which do not trigger the immune system and were proven to work by many researchers in their publications and also by the 2012 Slovenian iGEM t[link]eam. In that project students already introduced several safety mechanisms, which still seem effective. To make sure the system is not induced randomly, by walking under a blue light at a party or being examined by ultrasound, we realized that we could use the logic operations[Link na podstran Logika], so two different inputs are needed for activation, which strongly decreases the possibility of an unwanted activation. Alternatively, one of the inputs can be used to recognize the correct type of cells or cell state and the other to recognize when it should be induced.</p>'; | Having lived with a chronic disease for most of their lives, the patients were perfectly willing to try another method that could help. More than anything they were excited over the possibility of not having to prick themselves with a needle several times a day. While we mostly presented the potential foundational advantages of the system and explained that arriving to the final working device might take years, they were kind enough to highlight some of their concerns connected to the system and suggestions we could integrate in the design. Understandably, they were mostly interested in safety and the way the device would be integrated into the body. They wanted to know in what ways their bodies would be protected from the modified cells and in how the cells in the device would be protected, as well as how we would make sure the system is not triggered randomly. While years from a possible final device, we paid attention and tried to find the solutions to their concerns. To separate the modified cells in the device from patient’s unaltered ones, we suggest microencapsulation of cells in alginate capsule, which do not trigger the immune system and were proven to work by many researchers in their publications and also by the 2012 Slovenian iGEM t[link]eam. In that project students already introduced several safety mechanisms, which still seem effective. To make sure the system is not induced randomly, by walking under a blue light at a party or being examined by ultrasound, we realized that we could use the logic operations[Link na podstran Logika], so two different inputs are needed for activation, which strongly decreases the possibility of an unwanted activation. Alternatively, one of the inputs can be used to recognize the correct type of cells or cell state and the other to recognize when it should be induced.</p>'; | ||
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| − | + | myId.innerHTML = '<p>Mostly communicating with MDs, researchers in natural science, and among ourselves, we realized we could quickly fall in the trap of having a limited view of synthetic biology and our project, living in a sort of confirmation microbubble composed of approving scientist, but excluding the general public and their opinion. In order to tackle this, we wanted to talk to people who can understand the greater impact of science on society and how that is perceived by the general public. Taking into account the societal impacts of synthetic biology allows for more dynamic, varied solutions in the project. \ | |
We consulted prof. dr. Franc Mali and doc. dr. Toni Pustovrh, two culturologists from the University of Ljubljana, whose field of expertise is the sociology of science. We presented our project to them and they shared with us some excellent insights. Consultations with them indeed opened our horizons –having only best intentions we did not think of the potential misuse of our system, such as bypassing the doping regulations in professional sport by enhancing one’s own cells. The conversation later shifted to the wider filed of synthetic biology and its role in ensuring social justice, which impassioned us and educated our Social Engagement and Education segment <ref>6</ref>. </p>\ | We consulted prof. dr. Franc Mali and doc. dr. Toni Pustovrh, two culturologists from the University of Ljubljana, whose field of expertise is the sociology of science. We presented our project to them and they shared with us some excellent insights. Consultations with them indeed opened our horizons –having only best intentions we did not think of the potential misuse of our system, such as bypassing the doping regulations in professional sport by enhancing one’s own cells. The conversation later shifted to the wider filed of synthetic biology and its role in ensuring social justice, which impassioned us and educated our Social Engagement and Education segment <ref>6</ref>. </p>\ | ||
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of benefit to society should be the number one priority.</p> | of benefit to society should be the number one priority.</p> | ||
<p><b>/interactive picture comes here/</b></p> | <p><b>/interactive picture comes here/</b></p> | ||
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<div style = "display:block; width: 100%; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;" align = "center"> | <div style = "display:block; width: 100%; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;" align = "center"> | ||
Revision as of 15:24, 18 October 2016
Integrated Practices
Various extraordinary synthetic biology projects can be depicted as boats and ships, seeking the safety of a harbor in the wide ocean, their main purpose finding the final destination.
No matter how different or fascinating the boat is, its main purpose is to safely arrive to the harbor. Before there were modern GPS systems, sailors had to rely on using natural events and signs. One of the main was the lodestar, the most shining star, which is always a good orientation point.
Similarly, many research projects can struggle no matter how fascinating they are. They might lose the feeling of reality and just travel for the sake of travel.
In order to give the right coordinates, which showed to be of high importance in our case, we developed a new symbol for future iGEM teams who might apply their projects to the medical field – community oriented lodestar. No matter if the team is competing in the foundational advance or medical application section, maximization of benefit to society should be the number one priority.
/interactive picture comes here/
Consequently, if ever lost, teams should just find the shining star and orient in respect to it. By thorough discussions and careful implementation of ideas
provided by all the participants involved in dialogue, iGEM team should be able to present at the Giant Jamboree the most of the project –completely analyzed project
in real life. It’s not only the idea that influences the minds and thinking of individuals involved, but the relationship is reciprocal. The people involved have a great
deal of influence over the idea itself as well. The concept will be explained on our example. While we are competing in the foundational advance track we have considered
many possible medical applications of our project, particularly diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and hemorrhagic diseases, since medicine is the field of study of several
students and other students and mentors have a soft spot for this direction. .
