Final Project
For our final project we had to find a solution to a worldwide problem. Our driving question was how can we use biotechnology to solve a current issue in the world. We were told to work collaboratively in groups and use our knowledge/understanding of biology to identify a real world problem and create a proposal to a biotechnology company to further your research or create/invest in your product. Our group was assigned 7 stages to give a detailed description and solution for the worldwide issue of pollution.
Stage 1: Identify
Research and identify at least six challenges or limitations to solving a current health, food, energy, waste or water issue. This is done individually.
As a group decide on your top choice and then two backup challenges. Turn in one proposal per group on the 16th
Stage 2: Research
As a group research possible biotechnology products/solutions for chosen problem. Then each person will take a specific solution per problem and research it more in depth:
Stage 3: Imagine
Choose one biotechnology product/solution from their pool of possible products and develop a detailed description of the problem, your approach, and the product.
Find a virtual mentor to give you feedback
Stage 4: Plan
Develop tests to prove efficacy (“proof of concept”).
If can create it conduct these tests
Stage 5: Create
Build your product or give detailed description of how to build it
Stage 6: Test and Evaluate
Finish it all up with complete descriptions and plans for development or the actual product.
Be prepared for peer critiques on May 31st
Stage 7: Improve and finalize
Final revision of biotechnology product, including characterization, tests for efficacy and safety.
Preparation of presentation (slides or video and poster)
Final presentations will be during finals
Content:
Disposable plastics- plastic products that are manufactured for single use. Relates to our project-despicable plastic make up most of the waste in our landfills and oceans
Decomposition- the state or process of decay and rotting relates to our project- petroleum plastic products don't decay fast
Polymer- a chemical structure containing a chain of monomers. Relates to our project- polymers are broken down my the bacteria in our project
Monomer- a molecule; building block of polymer. Relates to our project because the bacteria produces monomers, which is the ideal structure for plastic decomposition
Sphingomonas- a bacteria that breaks down polymers, relates to our project because its the most import part of our concept
Poly Aspartic Acid- a polymerized biodegradable amino acid, the molecule that Sphingomonas naturally breaks down
Evidence:
Disposable plastics- plastic products that are manufactured for single use. Relates to our project-despicable plastic make up most of the waste in our landfills and oceans
Decomposition- the state or process of decay and rotting relates to our project- petroleum plastic products don't decay fast
Polymer- a chemical structure containing a chain of monomers. Relates to our project- polymers are broken down my the bacteria in our project
Monomer- a molecule; building block of polymer. Relates to our project because the bacteria produces monomers, which is the ideal structure for plastic decomposition
Sphingomonas- a bacteria that breaks down polymers, relates to our project because its the most import part of our concept
Poly Aspartic Acid- a polymerized biodegradable amino acid, the molecule that Sphingomonas naturally breaks down
Evidence: