Notebook | HKGTC - iGEM 2025

March 2024

First round of iGEM team members recruitment, Project brainstorm, Literature review

Project brainstorm, literature review, Environmental Justice Interactive video preparation and making, Education Booklet preparation, Board Game design

Development of microplastic datasets for AI training
10/7: Transformation of PSB1C3-LasR-LasRL-LacZ into DH5α and BL21
11/7: Colony PCR to confirm positive clones
12/7: Pre-trials
16/7: Protocol development using different X-gal concentration
17/7, 23/7: Protocol development using different optical density (OD) of biosensor
24/7: Protocol development using different optical density (OD) of biosensor and the use of ImageJ
26/7: Protocol development using different AHL (3OC₁₂-HSL) concentrations

Comparison and evaluation of the performance of Mask-RCNN and YOLOv8
6/8: Protocol development of cell washing
⁠9-14/8: Sensitivity test of biosensor using a range of AHL (3OC₁₂-HSL) concentrations (colour strip)

Confirmed constructs design - pSB1C3-pLasRL-LacZ (#2), pSB1C3-LasR-pLasR3-LacZ (#3) and pSB1C3-pLasRL-LacZ (#4)
13/4: ZPL x iGEM Beach Cleanup Pre-fieldtrip
26/4: ZPL x iGEM Beach Cleanup

21/5: iGEM student advisors gave advice and experience to new research team students about experiments conduction
27/5: Youth Centre Sharing Session
28/5: Interview with Dr. David Jones from Just One Ocean

3/7: Sharing Session in G.T. (Ellen Yeung) College – Secondary School
8/7: Sharing Session in G.T. (Ellen Yeung) College – Primary School, Interview with Prof. Jose Jimenez from Imperial College London
9/7: Sharing Session in Queen Elizabeth School, Interview with Prof. Ville Santala from Tempere University
14/7: Interview with Environmental Protection Department (EPD), HKSAR
25/7: Trial experiments using pSB1C3-LasR-LasRL-LacZ (#1)

Microplastic datasets making, AI training and Robotic car design and making
4/8: A visit to Green@SaiKung, Bacterial transformation of #2-4
5/8: Colony PCR to confirm positive clones of #2-4
7/8: AHLs (C₁₀-HSL & 3OC₁₂-HSL) induction with construct #3&4
12/8: AHLs (C₄-HSL & C₁₀-HSL) induction with construct #1&2
23/8: AHLs (C₄-HSL, C₁₀-HSL, 3OC₁₂-HSL) induction with construct #3&4
26/8: AHLs (C₄-HSL, C₁₀-HSL, 3OC₁₂-HSL) induction with construct #1&2
28/8: AHLs (C₄-HSL, C₁₀-HSL, 3OC₁₂-HSL) induction with construct #3&4, Survey for exhibition in G.T. (Ellen Yeung) College
30/8: AHLs (C₄-HSL, C₁₀-HSL, 3OC₁₂-HSL) induction with construct #1&2

3/9: Survey for Education booklet
4/9: AHLs (C₄-HSL, C₁₀-HSL, 3OC₁₂-HSL) induction with construct #1&2
6/9: AHL (3OC₁₂-HSL) induction with construct #3&4 with OD of 0.3, 0.6, 0.9
8, 16 & 30/9: Data Science Experience Course for G7 – G11 G.T. students
12/9: Board Game Trial Experience
13/9: AHL (3OC₁₂-HSL) induction with construct #3&4 using tap water
16/9: AHL (3OC₁₂-HSL) induction with construct #1-4
18/9: AHL (3OC₁₂-HSL) induction with construct #3&4 using tap water using OD of 0.7
20/9: AHL (3OC₁₂-HSL) induction with construct #3&4 using tap water
26/9: Project Exhibition in G.T. (Ellen Yeung) College, Green Event – Clean recycling
30/9: AHL (3OC₁₂-HSL) induction with construct #3&4 using seawater and tap water