Project
Human Practices
Dry Lab
Wet Lab
Jamboree
At iGEM Thessaly, we believe in the power of unity and collaboration, core values that make the iGEM competition so special. We're committed to helping future teams by sharing what we've learned along the way. From tools to knowledge and resources, we're here to pass on our experience and support the next wave of innovators. Here's how we plan to help the iGEM teams of tomorrow:
• Part contribution
• Guide for primer design
• Guide for Molecular Cloning: Golden Braid and Golden Standard
• DIY - Hardware
• Inclusive Knowledge: Our scenario and storybook for Special Needs Education
• A Comprehensive Guide for Farmers: Combatting Olive Verticillium Wilt
• Guide for the Online Game "Pseudomonas putida vs. Verticillium dahliae”
During our iGEM journey, the iGEM Registry proved to be an invaluable resource, providing us with essential parts for our project. In addition to using parts from the registry, our literature review led us to discover new components. Although we didn't have enough time to test all of them, below we document the parts that were characterized through literature review and experimental work. We hope that our documentation on the Registry will serve as a valuable resource for future teams.
| Part name | Registry code | Type of part | Type of contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| pSEVA23g19[g1] | BBa_K5299002 https://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K5299002 | Plasmid backbone | Literature review |
| pTn7-M | BBa_K5299006 https://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K5299006 | Plasmid backbone | Literature review |
| pTNS-2 | BBa_K5299001 https://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K5299001 | Plasmid | Literature review |
| pRK600 | BBa_K5299005 https://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K5299005 | Plasmid | Literature review/ Experimental results |
| pTN7-19[g1] | BBa_K5299007 https://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K5299007 | Plasmid backbone | Literature review |
| J23119 | BBa_J23119 https://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_J23119 | Regulatory | Experimental results |
| P3.1 | BBa_K4583008 https://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K4583008 | Regulatory | Experimental results |
| OsmY | BBa_J45992 https://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_J45992 | Regulatory | Experimental results |
| BG37 | BBa_K5299008 https://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K5299008 | Regulatory | Experimental results/literature review |
| BG42 | Ba_K5299010 https://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K5299010 | Regulatory | Experimental results/literature review |
| BG17 | BBa_K5299009 https://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K5299009 | Regulatory | Experimental results/literature review |
| T7 RNAP | BBa_K1706007 https://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1706007 | Regulatory | Literature review |
| AAC (ATP- ADP carrier) | BBa_K5299120 https://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K5299120 | Other | Literature review |
| THI20 | BBa_K5299121 https://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K5299121 | Other | Literature review |
| RGS1 | BBa_K5299119 https://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K5299119 | Other | Literature review |
| RBS 1 | BBa_B0030 https://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_B0030 | Regulatory | Experimental results |
| RBS 2(Elowitz 1999) | BBa_B0034 https://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_B0034 | Regulatory | Experimental results |
| T7hyb6 | BBa_K5299118 https://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K5299118 | Regulatory | Literature review |
Throughout our project, we refined various protocols by incorporating practical tips that significantly improved the efficiency and accuracy of our experiments. These optimizations were based on our hands-on experience and are aimed at helping others replicate our results with ease. You can explore these detailed protocols and tips in the "Protocols" section on our Experiments page.
We created a guide for primer design to offer clear and accessible information for individuals who may be as inexperienced as we were with these techniques. It is intended to help understand and assist users with the process of designing primers for the first time, allowing them to grasp the basic steps involved.
To assist other teams in their molecular cloning efforts, we have prepared a comprehensive guide covering both the Golden Braid and Golden Standard methods. The information we gathered to create this guide was useful for us, and we hope it will be just as beneficial for other teams. This guide, also, provides step-by-step instructions for better understanding these cloning procedures.
Below you can find a step-by-step guide on how we built our hardware and how you can Do It Yourself:
This year, our team made inclusivity a cornerstone of Thaelia's mission. We believe that knowledge and science should be available to everyone, regardless of their background or abilities. In this spirit, we carried out a unique initiative at a school for children with special needs, ensuring that these students have the same access to learning.
We included in our wiki the scenario we developed and implemented at our event, providing a resource for other iGEM teams or individuals interested in engaging effectively with children with special needs by following our approach. Our description explains everything we did—from the songs to the words we used—providing a roadmap for future initiatives to build upon. It includes step-by-step instructions for the movement-based, musical activity we created, making it easy for others to replicate or adapt the experience.
We took care to provide both the materials we developed and the components they are made from so that any future iGEM team can find inspiration or even make use of them in their own endeavors.
Additionally, our wiki features the storybook we developed to introduce Thaelia to children with disabilities -translated into four languages - offering a simplified version of the science behind our project. Our storybook can easily be translated into more languages, thanks to its simplicity and child-friendly language, making it perfect for young readers worldwide!
If anyone is looking to conduct a similar project at a special school, these inspirational tools are available to guide them every step of the way. Further information on how it was developed and the reasons behind it can be found here.
Combatting Verticilium Wilt of Olive
Our team is dedicated to tackling Verticillium dahliae - the most serious fungal disease of olive trees - and we wanted to ensure that the most affected group - farmers - could benefit directly and immediately from our project, Thaelia. With this in mind, we developed a detailed guide for managing Olive Tree Verticillium Wilt, providing clear, step-by-step instructions on how to contain outbreaks and safeguard the rest of the crop. The guide also includes vital information about the fungus itself, how it infects olive trees, and a thorough explanation of its life cycle.
These insights are designed to empower every farmer with the knowledge they need, ensuring that this essential information is readily accessible. Available in both English and Greek, this guide is open to all farmers who seek to protect their crops from this destructive pathogen. It is a valuable tool, designed to offer practical solutions to a critical issue faced by olive farmers today.
An Educational Game
As part of our efforts to raise awareness about microbial interactions and plant pathogens in agricultural systems, we developed an online educational game featuring Pseudomonas putida. This educational tool simulates the dynamic battle between the beneficial bacterium Pseudomonas putida and the pathogen Verticillium dahliae.
Game Overview
In the game, the player takes control of Pseudomonas putida, whose mission is to protect the root system of an olive tree while navigating through soil layers. The soil environment is home to both allies and enemies, representing the diversity of microorganisms found in natural ecosystems. Players must collect nutrients to strengthen the bacterium, avoid harmful fungal spores, and overcome the toxic effects of Verticillium dahliae.
This game is designed to raise awareness about:
The ecological importance of beneficial microbes in plant health.
The role of Pseudomonas putida as a potential biocontrol agent.
Educational Impact
It encapsulates educative and entertainment elements, and is an accessible learning tool for everyone. By simulating microbial interactions beneath the soil, it helps users appreciate the dynamics between microbes and pathogens.
How We Contributed
We believe this project can significantly contribute to the iGEM and the broader scientific community. Therefore, we have made the game open-source, along with its code and design elements. Any iGEM team, educational institution, or researcher can access the game’s repository and customize it to fit their educational or research needs. This contribution furthers our goal of collaborative science and public engagement, aligning with the core values of the iGEM community.
How to Play
Navigate through the soil layers as Pseudomonas putida.
Avoid infected spores and the toxic secretions of Verticillium dahliae.
Protect the root system and outsmart the pathogen to progress to the next level.
We encourage everyone in the iGEM community to explore the game, provide feedback, and build upon this tool to enhance educational outreach on microbial interactions.