Making use of synthetic biology, we are designing a biosensor to detect Arsenic in water. It´ll be economic and easy to use (a simple image based instructive will be enough).
The device has a modular design and will enable us, in the future, to detect other types of water pollutants.
Which is our motivation?
Limited access to potable water is a major problem that tends to increase within the years. Pollution that turns potable water into non-potable water can vary from a single toxic (eg arsenic) to a wide and complex mixture of different types and quantities of harmful substances, as can be found in diverse hydrographic watersheds (eg Salí Dulce, Matanza-Riachuelo, among others). Even if it was not possible to potabilize polluted water, information about levels of pollutants could be easily used to modify consumption patterns and think of alternative sources of water.
Nowadays, water pollutant measurement is limited by the difficulties on sample processing and the elevated costs of supplies, skilled staff and mobility.
Our aim is to offer people an economic way which could warn consumers about possible pollutants present in drinking water.
Who are we? We are a group of students from Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales of Universidad de Buenos Aires, coordinated by teachers and researchers of CONICET (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas). We are working pro bono (without remuneration) from beginning of year to make this academic and social related project real.
What is the iGEM comptetition?
iGEM Competition (International Genetically Engineered Machine competition) is the most important and expected event of synthetic biology. Undoubtedly, it´s the ideal event for us to introduce our project, as it can provide us with diverse technologic tools and supplies, as well as feedback and contact with the world most experienced synthetic biology researchers.
This competition consists of two sessions: the first is a regional session that will take place in Santiago de Chile and, the next one, and providing we classify, is the world session at the MIT, Boston, United States.
What would we achieve in case we reach 100% collection?
We would guarantee the continuity of the project, and two members of the team will travel to Chile to represent us in the regional session of the competition.
Besides, and in case we classify, a member of the team will represent us in the world session at the MIT in Boston.
Special acknowledgements:
- To Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales de la UBA for the support.
- To Romina Mathieu, Luciana Feo Mourelle y Adrián Teijeiro for designing the physical prototype of the Project.
- A Gonzalo Moiguer, Rodrigo Melendez y Javier de Azkue for the audiovisual material.
- To GarageLab, for promoting our work.
Thanks for your time and help! IGEM-BsAS
Web: http://igem.qb.fcen.uba.ar/ Facebook: Igem Buenos Aires
En caso de no recaudar el 100% de nuestro objetivo económico haremos lo siguiente:
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Con el 10%
We will use it to finish the research and make the displays for the regional session.
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Con el 25%
We will be able to finish the research and two members of the team will go to the regional session in Chile. The more members there, the best results for us.
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Con el 50%
We will be able to finish the research and two members of the team will go to the regional session in Chile. The more members there, the best results for us.
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Con el 75%
We will be able to finish the research, one member of the team will go to the regional session in Chile and one member will have guaranteed the trip to MIT in case we classify.
Argentina
