Team:BCCS-Bristol/Calendar-Main/2 July 2008

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Meeting: Weekly Status Meeting

Time: 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Location: BCCS Office

Agenda

• Presentation about previous iGEM projects related to chemotaxis.
• Update on the current modelling.
• Discussion about mechanics based simulation.
• Task list and allocations
• AOB

Attendees

Summary

1. Previous iGEM Projects (Slides ):
   • UCSF 2006 -
   • Cambridge 2006 -
   • Boston 2006 -
   • Rice 2006 -
   • Harvard 2007 -
2. The modelling of the chemoattractant switch is underway and the mathematics and simulation has been completed. Unfortunately, no actual parameter values have been found yet so estimates were entered. These showed that the switch seems to work as expected only expressing a single CheW/CheW* as required. Parameters need to be found for each variable, however, a more pressing matter was ensuring that a mechanics based simulation was produced to evaluate how well the method we are proposing will work.
3. During the questions session several important points were made. The first was that the movement that a bacteria will make will be a biased random walk and as such it may not impart the full force possible on the particle to move. This may not be such a problem if recruitment can cause swarming behaviour around the particle allowing for a mean force of the group to be imparted, however, simulations should be produced to evaluate this. Secondly, if the forces are less than initially anticipated, it will be important to damp any external influences and so vibration free tables may be necessary. This can be evaluated after the feasibility study.

Actions

• (Jenn, Sophie W, Joe, Rodger) Continue to research the Harvard 2007 project, and collate all from projects that would be suitable to use.
• (Ian, Sophie W, Sophie A, Tom G) Start to research and develop mechanics based model for the project.
• (Tom G, Ghizzi, Maria) Start work in the lab carrying out feasibility studies.