Our project encompasses the characterisation of standardized biological parts that could potentially allow non-model microorganisms to be used as novel chassis. Domestication of non-model strains with high potential for industrial applications, could accelerate their understanding and increase the list of strains that are suitable for bioproduction. However, the domestication of strains of non-model organisms raises both biosafety and biosecurity challenges (e.g. unknown pathogenicity and toxicity), which are enhanced by the fast development of SynBIo and DIYBio fields. Such issues, if are not properly addressed, can be a risk for both users and their surroundings. In order to contribute to current risk assessment procedures, and as a precautionary step for both experienced and non-experienced users, the Edinburgh OG team worked on an accessible, easy-to-use program to evaluate the toxicity of curated secondary metabolites of both model and non-model organisms.
We are the University of Edinburgh Overgraduate iGEM Team, competing in the new application track in iGEM 2016. read more
School of Biological Sciences The University of Edinburgh King's Buildings Edinburgh EH9 3JF, United Kingdom
Email: edigemmsc@ed.ac.uk