UK teams scoop Promega prize
14 Sep 2018 by Evoluted New Media
Two UK groups are among 10 international projects to have won sponsorship from the Promega Corporation as part of the worldwide iGem competition for up and coming scientists.
The iGem (International Genetically Engineered Machine Foundation) is a non-profit dedicated to education and competition, the advancement of synthetic biology, and the development of an open community and collaboration. Two teams from the University of Manchester and the University of Edinburgh will each receive free Promega products to the value of $2,000 to complete their research.
Craig Gilmour from the University of Edinburgh said, “It’s a really great opportunity to work with the latest technology. iGem also gives the team a great experience as we meet new people, develop project management skills and work with a mix of disciplines, while coming together as a team.”
The Edinburgh team will be investigating a novel and sustainable use for pot ale, a by-product generated in the production of whisky. The project aims to produce bioplastics, in particular polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) co-polymers of Poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (P3HB-3HV) through utilising propionate and acetate.
Philip Hargreaves, Head of Strategic Marketing at Promega said, “This is a testament to the work being carried out by students at universities in the UK and we are really excited to see what they achieve at the end of their projects and how they reach their results.”
The Manchester team, will be looking at designing a method of detecting key signal molecules produced by Listeria monocytogenes in infected cheese. Their Listeria detection method is advantageous compared to current methods, with the sensor fully integrated into the cheese-making process, reducing the time contaminated cheese is in factories or homes.
