Microbe Hackers
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Welcome to the Microbe Hackers!
In this FRI stream we do research in the vast and emerging field of synthetic biology. We genetically engineer bacteria for a purpose of our choosing. To facilitate this we also study how to better engineer the microorganisms that we use and how to create better "genetic devices". Genetic devices are the DNA sequences that we create. They code for some specific function inside the cell.
Want your cell to glow green instead of its boring "normal color"?
Give it a genetic device that codes for a green fluorescent protein!
Or, maybe a different color. In Microbe Hackers, you work with these genetically engineered bacteria and you engineer your own bacteria, learning the techniques that will allow you to partake in more comprehensive projects that may span not only your time in Microbe Hackers, but also the time of past and future students. Virtually every organism that you work with was created by a previous Microbe Hacker.
Want your bacteria to be "addicted" to caffeine?
Let's modify its genome and then throw in a genetic device that allows it to live off of caffeine. Previous research by our students can be found covering the creation of caffeinated coli and its use by our students in Austin and further ongoing research on applying the system to complex beverages. This work is currently being written up for submission to a scientific journal. All of the authors are either current or former Microbe Hackers.
For Spring 2017
- The Lecture portion of this FRI stream should be Mondays 4pm - 5pm GSB 2.122. This will be confirmed shortly.
- The Lab portion of this FRI stream will be determined during the first week of class based on student schedules. You will have a 4 hour lab period that meets once a week during the first part of the course. Later, you will be able to schedule your own lab time.
- The stream can be taken for EITHER: BIO206L or CH204 credit
If you have other questions, please contact Dr. Mishler.
Fall 2016 Open House
If you are interested in hearing about these topics or some of the projects that we have in the research lab, visit us during the Fall 2016 open house or contact Dr. Mishler.
Open House is now closed! Best of luck with stream sort!
For Spring 2016
- The Lecture portion of this FRI stream will be Mondays 4pm - 5pm GSB 2.122.
- The Lab portion of this FRI stream will be determined during the first week of class based on student schedules. You will have a 4 hour lab period that meets once a week during the first part of the course. Later, you will be able to schedule your own lab time.
- The stream can be taken for EITHER: BIO206L or CH204 credit
If you have other questions, please contact Dr. Mishler.
iGEM Competition
The 2017 iGEM team is now accepting applications from non-freshmen. Please see this call for iGEM2017. If you are a freshman, see below for info on joining the iGEM team.
The Microbe Hackers stream also feeds directly into the UT Austin iGEM team, which is led by Professor Mishler and Professor Barrick. Students who conduct research with us during the year, and especially in the summer, are able to participate in the annual project. Every fall, a handful of students are selected to represent UT Austin at this international academic event that features hundreds of teams from around the world, 90% of which are comprised solely of undergraduate conducting research in synthetic biology. Below is a photo of our 2015 team in Boston.