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= Biology =
= Biology =
* Enzymatic DNA Synthesis Methods, '''Lead: Michael Uttmark''' {{slack-user|uttmark}}
** Test commercial blocking groups for compatibility with [[Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase]]
** Chemically synthesize nucleotides with different reversible blocking groups
** Characterize and optimize [[Enzymatic Synthesis Methods | enzymatic DNA synthesis]] reaction efficiency
** Research purification methods for synthesized DNA
** Design and test your own synthesis method!
* Sequence Verification
** Execute and optimize any one of our existing verification procedures--[[Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis]], [[Pyrosequencing]], or [[Ligation and Sequencing]]
** Adapt LCMS or MALDI-TOF procedures for detecting single-base addition or determining the sequence of a sample.
** Come up with new ways to verify single-base addition to a starting strand of DNA
* Microfluidic Device Design
** Design and program an [[Electrowetting on Dielectric]] microfluidic PCB
** Simulate and test how a microfluidic system would work in microgravity
** Port our DNA synthesis method to a solid substrate like controlled pore glass or streptavidin-biotin magnetic beads
** Optimize an integrated microfluidic protocol for DNA synthesis and verification on the electrowetting PCB and on the [[Beckman Biomek 2000]] liquid handling robot in lab
** Research and test other automated [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microfluidics fluid handling methods], like [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acoustic_droplet_ejection acoustic droplet ejection] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optoelectrowetting optoelectrowetting].
** Build a system for cooling and temperature control of the device, perhaps using [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_cooling Peltiers]
** Figure out how to power our PCB from a cubesat or other launch vehicle
** Build testing rigs for DNA synthesis methods that are needed for experiments in lab
= Policy =
= Policy =