Biotechnology
For this project, we had to attempt to solve a problem using biotech. My group was originally three people, but one person left after about a day so then it was only two. After several discussions, we decided to tackle the Energy crisis by genetically modifying corn. The two of us started by figuring out how corn is converted into energy through fermentation. This process is driven by the digestion of bacteria to convert starches into simple sugars. Initially, we decided to try to make the corn starchier or more sugary but ultimately went with making it drought resistant. We found out that this was possible through the usage of the ACBP2 protein. This can be harvested from thale cress, a small flowering plant native to Eurasia and Africa. Eventually, we had a clear model of the shift, showing that ACBP2 would go to the corn’s fourth chromosome and help the corn plant by limiting its own.
Content
Energy Crisis - the innate limitation of current energy sources, such as gasoline
Pollution - the excess of human waste which poses a danger to all species
ACBP2 - a gene that codes for drought resistance
Fuel - a material that is burned for energy in machinerhy such as cars
Biofuel - a type of fuel that is derived from organic material, such as plants
Ethanol - a specific type of biofuel that is often mixed with traditional gasoline to power cars
Pollution - the excess of human waste which poses a danger to all species
ACBP2 - a gene that codes for drought resistance
Fuel - a material that is burned for energy in machinerhy such as cars
Biofuel - a type of fuel that is derived from organic material, such as plants
Ethanol - a specific type of biofuel that is often mixed with traditional gasoline to power cars
Evidence of Work Button Below
Reflection
During this project, I learned many things, from the inner workings of society at large, to the complexities of my own self. First, I discovered that I can take a small leadership decision, but it also makes me feel a little bit more stressed and perfectionist than usual. However, this was okay, because my partner, Nico, was extremely helpful during the project, like when he found out how fermentation worked and where ACBP2 came from, off the top of my head. However, when we were making the presentation, we had creative differences with the diagram depicting the process of fermenting corn to make it drought resistant. We ultimately resolved this, but my group member decided to change a large portion of the presentation in the middle of the night before we were giving it, but it still contained the same information so it was not terrible. In sum, this project was a very positive experience for me as I finally understand how to balance leadership and cooperation.