Team:HKUSTers

From 2008.igem.org

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'''''Does God play dice with the cell?'''''
'''''Does God play dice with the cell?'''''
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~The Randomizer~
 
Stochastic fluctuation in a cellular context and the lambda-phage
Stochastic fluctuation in a cellular context and the lambda-phage
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Balancing the two sets of affinity and kinetic parameters and
Balancing the two sets of affinity and kinetic parameters and
maintaining a single copy of this synthetic device integrated into the
maintaining a single copy of this synthetic device integrated into the
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bacterial chromosome shall improve performance. If successful, coupled
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bacterial chromosome shall improve performance.
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with other reporters we envision multiple extensions of this
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 +
If successful, coupled with other reporters we envision multiple extensions of this
"Randomizer", including a Memorizer that utilizes a hierarchy of
"Randomizer", including a Memorizer that utilizes a hierarchy of
XOR-calculations to "store" a multi-digit random number, and
XOR-calculations to "store" a multi-digit random number, and
intriguing pattern generation involving chemical gradients and random
intriguing pattern generation involving chemical gradients and random
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"population behavior".
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"population behavior". In this case, the randomizer would work like a black box. As shown in the animation below, when there is an input as start, it would generate an output, either A or B randomly.
 +
 
 +
Meanwhile, the memorizer will remember the output of randomizer, until the next randomizer output comes.
 +
 
 +
So When randomizing events happen one after another, the XOR gate reporter could integrate the neighboring two outputs from randomizer( the former one remembered in memorizer), and fires if the two outputs are different.
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<!--- The Mission, Experiments --->
<!--- The Mission, Experiments --->
*We are grateful to the generous sponsorship and support from the '''Lee Hysan Foundation'''.
*We are grateful to the generous sponsorship and support from the '''Lee Hysan Foundation'''.

Revision as of 18:08, 26 October 2008

HK Harbour-1-2.jpg

Probably the most beautiful harbour in the world: Victoria Harbour, taken at the Peak, Hong Kong.



Our logo:The Bauhinia purpurea x variegata at the top-left corner is the floral emblem of Hong Kong; the red sundial on the left represents HKUST, as there is a large sundial in HKUST as a landmark; the Chinese brush style English letters reflect the cultural diversity of Hong Kong as a place where east meets west.

Abstract


Does God play dice with the cell?


Stochastic fluctuation in a cellular context and the lambda-phage bifurcation have been extensively studied. However, from a bottom-up synthetic aspect, we aim to exploit the cellular "noise" to build an E. coli version of a computational device, the "Random Number Generator". One random binary digit can be generated by capturing an initial Polymerase binding event with a pair of mutually exclusive promoters. Reciprocal inhibition using two repressors shall achieve unilateral expression of the "switch", with fluorescence reporters indicating the probability of each alternative occurrence. Balancing the two sets of affinity and kinetic parameters and maintaining a single copy of this synthetic device integrated into the bacterial chromosome shall improve performance.

If successful, coupled with other reporters we envision multiple extensions of this "Randomizer", including a Memorizer that utilizes a hierarchy of XOR-calculations to "store" a multi-digit random number, and intriguing pattern generation involving chemical gradients and random "population behavior". In this case, the randomizer would work like a black box. As shown in the animation below, when there is an input as start, it would generate an output, either A or B randomly.

Meanwhile, the memorizer will remember the output of randomizer, until the next randomizer output comes.

So When randomizing events happen one after another, the XOR gate reporter could integrate the neighboring two outputs from randomizer( the former one remembered in memorizer), and fires if the two outputs are different.


>

  • We are grateful to the generous sponsorship and support from the Lee Hysan Foundation.