Collaborative Research: RUI: BIOMAPS: Modular Programmed Evolution of Bacteria for Optimization of Metabolic Pathways

智力价值这个项目的目的是开发新的方法，优化生产有用的化合物的基因工程细菌。在典型的工业环境中，大规模生产充满了降低的效率和所需化合物的产率。问题是，工业上有用的化合物可能对细菌没有用，因此存在针对“生产细胞”和“非生产细胞”的选择性压力，这可能会压倒种群。为了解决这个问题，一种名为“程序化进化”的策略已经产生，它将把遗传变异引入细菌种群，并奖励产生最大量化合物的细胞。该项目旨在使用数学方法研究这种优化过程，以便更好地了解细胞如何达到最终的进化状态。程序化进化将是一个即插即用的系统，用于优化任何所需的输出，因此研究人员和公司可以生产最多的化合物，用于能源和生物修复。更广泛的影响程序化进化项目将增加STEM教育的多样性，因为该研究完全由本科生进行。调查人员将继续从代表性不足的群体中招募学生的成功模式。该项目将有助于训练有素的STEM劳动力，因为参与的学生将因其真实的研究经验而受到高度重视。程序化进化过程可以提高有用化学品和药物的工业规模商业生产的效率，从而提高美国的经济竞争力。除了加强两个合作校区的研究和教育基础设施外，该项目还将使研究人员能够通过基因组主动教学联盟（GCAT）继续担任本科合成生物学教育和研究的国家领导者。该项目将加强学生的本科教育，促进他们发展为具有科学素养的公民，并为他们提供从事研究事业所需的背景。随着本科生学习如何编程细菌的进化，他们也学习如何编程自己的未来作为专业人员，教育工作者和研究科学家的课程。该项目由生物科学理事会，分子和细胞生物科学部以及教育和人力资源理事会共同资助，本科教育部作为他们努力支持本科生物学教育的愿景和变革的一部分。

Intellectual MeritThis project is directed towards developing new methods for optimizing production of useful compounds by genetically engineered bacteria. In typical industrial settings, large scale production is fraught with reduced efficiency and yield of desired compounds. The problem is that an industrially useful compound may not be useful for the bacteria, and so there is selective pressure against "producer cells" and for "non-producer cells" which can then overwhelm the population. To address this problem, a strategy called Programmed Evolution has been created, which will introduce genetic variation into bacterial populations and reward cells for producing the largest amount of compound. This project aims to investigate this optimization process using a mathematical approach in order to gain a better understanding as to how the cells reach their final evolved state. Programmed Evolution will be a plug-and-play system for the optimization of any desired output so researchers and companies can produce the most compound possible for applications in energy, and bioremediation. Broader impactsThe Programmed Evolution project will increase diversity for STEM education since the research is conducted entirely by undergraduates. The investigators will continue their successful model of recruiting students from underrepresented groups. The project will contribute to a trained STEM workforce because the students involved will be highly valued as a result of their authentic research experiences. The Programmed Evolution process could improve efficiencies for industrial-scale commercial production of useful chemicals and pharmaceuticals, thus improving American economic competitiveness. In addition to strengthening the infrastructure for research and education on the two collaborating campuses, the project will enable the investigators to continue to serve as national leaders in undergraduate synthetic biology education and research through the Genome Consortium for Active Teaching (GCAT). The project will enhance the undergraduate education of the students, contribute to their development as scientifically literate citizens, and provide them with the background needed to pursue research careers. As the undergraduate students learn how to program the evolution of bacteria, they also learn how to program the course of their own futures as professionals, educators, and research scientists.This project is being jointly funded by the Directorate for Biological Sciences, Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, and the Directorate for Education and Human Resources, Division of Undergraduate Education as part of their efforts toward support of Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education.