Here is a PPT slide describing my initial final project idea. I chose not to address COVID-19, but rather to apply synthetic biology to the environmental challenge of water contamination.
Since conception, this idea has developed and changed substantially. Although I initially thought of pursuing yeast because that was the technique utilized by Professor Belcher, I realized it could be very interesting to use a Cell-Free System instead. I am currently researching proteins that are specific to arsenic binding, and I would like to design a microfluidic chip centered around one of these proteins. A small amount of water directly from a water source could be used, and toxic byproducts would not be produced. This solution would address the current problems of commercial arsenic detectors and sensors: portability, reusability, cost, and time-efficiency.
These slides describe the SHERLOCK diagnostic and how it is currently being applied to COVID-19.
