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| − | <h2>Design of Hardware</h2>
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| − | <p><center><i> “Design, and build, a modular easy-to-assemble kit to illustrate our research in the field of Bioelectronics, to students of high school age.” - Newcastle iGEM 2016</i></center></p>
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| − | <h2>The Breadboard</h2>
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| − | Beginning with the above specification, we drafted up some initial designs that used press-together studs as their connection/conduction mechanism. This idea was inspired by the <a href="http://www.johnadams.co.uk/product/hot-wires/">John Adams 'Hot Wires' Plug & Play Electronics set</a> and other such ‘easy-build’ systems. We also reached out to John Adams to discuss features that make their products so successful within their target demographic.
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| − | As advertised on the John Adams website, these products are designed to reinforce ideas already taught as part of the United Kingdom national curriculum. However, with our project, we hope to explore entirely ‘new ground’ for end users. Currently, synthetic biology receives little to no mention before the final year of A levels in the UK, at age 17/18. Due to this, it was decided we would need attractive packaging and targeted advertising on pre-watershed TV to raise awareness and generate pester power. Above all, it was stressed that, due to the growing array of toy safety requirements, science-based products are becoming more expensive to develop. Potentially, the lack of domain-specific products prevents people from having the opportunity to explore (and become interested in) particular areas of science. These issues were given great thought, not least due to the public’s largely negative connotations associated with <a href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmsctech/6/609.htm">genetically modified (GM) organisms.</a> It was deemed, we had to ensure, and advertised as so, that our system was as safe as possible.
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| − | We then gave a presentation about the iGEM competition and our project to groups of sixth form students across two open days. During the event, we presented our ideas as well as the Hot Wires kits along with two other variants and asked them for feedback on the products. We wanted to establish what they liked and features that could be improved, recording this information and feeding into our design rationale. Use of bright colours and clear labelling received unanimous praise, while snap-together studs were rejected as too fiddly. It was this observation that made us decide to pursue a magnetised system, using coloured perspex to ensure the kit was visually stimulating.
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| − | <figure><img id="imga" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/6/6d/T--Newcastle--sixthform.png" alt="We gave the sixth formers existing electronics kits to look at and asked their opinions to inform and improve our designs" /><figcaption>We gave the sixth formers existing electronics kits to look at and asked their opinions to inform and improve our designs.</figcaption></figure>
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| − | <figure><img id="imga" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/4/44/T--Newcastle--sixthformigem.png" alt="Getting them to come up with their own iGEM projects was a great way to see what ethical concerns they considered to be important" /><figcaption>Getting them to come up with their own iGEM projects was a great way to see what ethical concerns they considered to be important.</figcaption></figure> | + | <div class="column full_size judges-will-not-evaluate"> |
| | + | <h3>★ ALERT! </h3> |
| | + | <p>This page is used by the judges to evaluate your team for the <a href="https://2016.igem.org/Judging/Awards#Special_Prizes"> design special prize</a>. </p> |
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| − | We wanted to produce a series of interchangeable parts that could house the hardwire required to activate the heat shock response within our bacteria contained in the microfluidic chambers. While also maintaining user-friendly functionality and an aesthetically pleasing product. This would allow for easy experiment preparation and consistency in any observations, as we would include all laser cut and 3D model designs for free.</p>
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| − | <figure><img id="imga" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/9/96/T--Newcastle--breadboarddrawing.png" alt="The early design draft for the base units of our breadboard." data-title="Figure 1: The early design draft for the base units of our breadboard." /></figure> | + | <p> Delete this box in order to be evaluated for this medal. See more information at <a href="https://2016.igem.org/Judging/Pages_for_Awards/Instructions"> Instructions for Pages for awards</a>.</p> |
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| − | <figure><img id="imga" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/5/5b/T--Newcastle--crosspiece.png" alt="Draft design for the piece which would eventually house the microfluidic devices." /><figcaption>Draft design for the piece which would eventually house the microfluidic devices.</figcaption></figure>
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| − | In keeping with our previous stud-based design, we opted to use a series of nodes attached to bases, which were magnetised. This meant that depending on the circuits they wished to build; the bases could be rearranged in space, with strong connections between segments to ensure stability. All connector pieces and components used the same form factor based on these small-but-powerful round magnets, which guarantee stable conduction. Copper tape was soldered to each magnet and used to conduct across plastic connector pieces.
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| − | <figure><img id="imga" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/5/56/T--Newcastle--partscut.png" alt="Some of the breadboard components lasercut and ready to assemble!." /><figcaption>Some of the breadboard components lasercut and ready to assemble!</figcaption></figure> | + | <div class="column full_size"> |
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| − | <figure><img id="imga" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/3/34/T--Newcastle--boardmagnets.png" alt="The ball magnet based design for our breadboard - looks cool, but gave poor stability." /><figcaption>The ball magnet based design for our breadboard - looks cool, but gave poor stability.</figcaption></figure>
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| − | In testing, it transpired that although the magnetic nodes were visually appealing, they also contained small manufacturing inconsistencies. These inconsistencies meant we could not always get the stable connection we needed to deliver the electricity for heat shock. From this finding, the final iteration of the design was born.
| + | By talking about your design work on this page, there is one medal criterion that you can attempt to meet, and one award that you can apply for. If your team is going for a gold medal by building a functional prototype, you should tell us what you did on this page. |
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| − | Now we are using 8mm neodymium disc magnets for our design, which are powerful but most importantly completely smooth, with the copper-magnet join taking place away from the connection surface. Finally we had achieved the perfect current delivery method, and adapted all our pre-existing models and diagrams to incorporate the magnets.
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| − | During our experiments we had been using a Bio-Rad PowerPac Basic to supply electricity. Given the short time available to us we would have liked to develop our own variable PSU design, but for now we have opted to make adapters that will allow multiple types of bench supply to work with our breadboard system, which are included in the kit.
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| − | The parts for the kit can be produced using common equipment available at your local fabrication laboratory - we recommend finding your nearest FabLab initiative! Once cut, all the structures can be joined together using two-part resin. If ordering all the parts yourself, try using less powerful magnets (WE USED XX) as they had a nasty habit of ripping other components apart during our testing!
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| − | Of course, we intended from the beginning for our designs to be freely available and modifed - we have included a thumb drive with every single lasercutting profile and 3D models required to build your own kits, along with the relevant documentation. These files are also downloadable from the filestore on this wiki at the link HERE. We’d love to see what new parts you can come up with and integrate into the system. As the field of synthetic biology evolves, so can the system!
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| − | <h2>Microfluidic Microbial Fuel Cell</h2>
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| − | <a href="https://2016.igem.org/File:T--Newcastle--minifuelcellmodel.zip">You can download the 3D model to mould your own miniature microbial fuel cell here</a></p>
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| − | <p> | + | <p>This is a prize for the team that has developed a synthetic biology product to solve a real world problem in the most elegant way. The students will have considered how well the product addresses the problem versus other potential solutions, how the product integrates or disrupts other products and processes, and how its lifecycle can more broadly impact our lives and environments in positive and negative ways.</p> |
| − | Designing our new fuel cell was a challenging experience, but one that we feel yielded strong results. From our experiments using the University of Reading's microbial fuel cell kit, we wondered if the entire system could be made smaller and integrated into our breadboard but still provide measurable voltage output. To deconstruct the kit, it consists at a basic level of two separate chambers, separated by a cation exchange membrane and an electrode running into each chamber.
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| − | <figure><img id="imga" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/2/2a/T--Newcastle--fuelcells.png" alt="Standard microbial fuel cells consist of two chambers separated by a cation exchange system." /><figcaption>Standard microbial fuel cells consist of two chambers separated by a cation exchange system.</figcaption></figure>
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| − | Having already used PDMS gel moulding to construct our basic genetic construct chambers, we wanted to make use of the existing protocols and expertise afforded to us by Dr Lucy Eland. With this in mind, we designed a new model to pour the gel around and had this 3D printed. While unfortunately due to some calculation errors the first prints were far too small, the second run was correctly sized and we were successful in creating a miniaturised fuel cell, sealed by bonding to a glass slide as per our other PDMS devices.
| + | If you are working on art and design as your main project, please join the art and design track. If you are integrating art and design into the core of your main project, please apply for the award by completing this page. |
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| − | <figure><img id="imga" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/3/35/T--Newcastle--standardmould.png" alt="The metallic moulds used to form our standard construct devices - the raised portion forms the central injection chamber." /><figcaption>The metallic moulds used to form our standard construct devices - the raised portion forms the central injection chamber.</figcaption></figure>
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| − | <figure><img id="imga" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/b/bd/T--Newcastle--fuelcellmoulding.png" alt="PDMS gel poured around our 3D printed model (yellow) undergoing curing within a tape boundary." /><figcaption>PDMS gel poured around our 3D printed model (yellow) undergoing curing within a tape boundary.</figcaption></figure> | + | <p>Teams who want to focus on art and design should be in the art and design special track. If you want to have a sub-project in this area, you should compete for this award.</p> |
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| − | <figure><img id="imga" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/2/29/T--Newcastle--fuelcelldone.png" alt="A successful mould, giving the requisite two separate internal chambers and a slot for insertion of cation exchange material!" /><figcaption>A successful mould, giving the requisite two separate internal chambers and a slot for insertion of cation exchange material!</figcaption></figure>
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| − | <figure><img id="imga" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/f/f0/T--Newcastle--microfuelcellactive.png" alt="The miniature fuel cell complete with platinum electrodes and chemicals within its chambers, ready to be connected and provide current." /><figcaption>The miniature fuel cell complete with platinum electrodes and chemicals within its chambers, ready to be connected and provide current.</figcaption></figure>
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| − | It was fantastic to see this particular device come to life over the course of the summer, as were able to design both the physical form and the genetic insert for the bacteria by improving on the past work of Team Bielefeld in 2013. For more details on how the cell performed, <a href="https://2016.igem.org/Team:Newcastle/Proof/MFC">please click this link to see our results.</a>
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| − | </p> | + | |
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| | </html> | | </html> |
By talking about your design work on this page, there is one medal criterion that you can attempt to meet, and one award that you can apply for. If your team is going for a gold medal by building a functional prototype, you should tell us what you did on this page.
This is a prize for the team that has developed a synthetic biology product to solve a real world problem in the most elegant way. The students will have considered how well the product addresses the problem versus other potential solutions, how the product integrates or disrupts other products and processes, and how its lifecycle can more broadly impact our lives and environments in positive and negative ways.
If you are working on art and design as your main project, please join the art and design track. If you are integrating art and design into the core of your main project, please apply for the award by completing this page.
Teams who want to focus on art and design should be in the art and design special track. If you want to have a sub-project in this area, you should compete for this award.
