Overview
This year, our team did not develop new hardware specifically for the iGEM project, but during the engineering cycle we made several modifications to our experimental equipment to better meet the requirements of our experiments.
Modification of Incubator: Lighting
Our first modification addressed a key limitation of the laboratory’s existing incubator: the absence of lighting. To resolve this, we installed full-spectrum grow lights suitable for the growth of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. We carefully selected lamps with appropriate size, wattage, and lumens to fit the incubator dimensions while ensuring uniform illumination for all algae cultures. In addition, we added an external switch to conveniently control the duration of lighting.
Modification of Incubator: Cooling
During use, however, a new issue emerged. High summer temperatures in the laboratory made it difficult for the incubator’s temperature control system to consistently maintain the target of 25 °C. To mitigate this, we introduced a second modification: a physical cooling method that involved placing a container of ice at the bottom of the incubator to assist the system. While this temporarily improved cooling, it also created new problems. The ice required frequent replacement, necessitating frequent opening of the incubator, and the resulting humidity fluctuations interfered with stable algal growth.
Establishing a Controlled Darkroom
To overcome these limitations, we ultimately moved beyond the incubator altogether. We modified a small darkroom to establish a controlled growth environment that simultaneously met the temperature, light, and circadian rhythm requirements of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The algae cultures were transferred there, and this approach proved far more effective, supporting consistent growth during the final stages of our experiments.
For further details, please refer to the “Engineering” page on our wiki.