2011

iGEM 2011Cobalto project

Our Cobalto Project

We want to built an Escherichia coli strainAble to accumulate Cobalt, even if it is in low concentrationAble to form a biofilm in the presence of this element

in order to propose an efficient biofilter to decontaminate liquid effluents containing radioactive isotope of cobalt, one of the major element responsive for radioactive water emission in the environment.

Our Cobalto Project

But first, a very brief story of radioactivity

Brief history

Discovery of radioactivity at the beginning of the 20th Century:

Henri BECQUEREL Maria SKŁODOWSKA-CURIEPierre CURIE

1903 Nobel

Prize in Physics

Brief history

Discovery of Radium and Polonium, two new elements of the periodic table:

Maria SKŁODOWSKA-CURIE

1911 Nobel

Prize in Chemistr

y

Brief history

Discovery of artificial radioactivity & transmutation phenomenon:

Irène JOLIOT-CURIEFrédéric JOLIOT

1935 Nobel

Prize in Chemistr

y

Discovery of new particles NEUTRON by James CHADWICK

POSITRON by Carl David ANDERSON predicted by Paul DIRAC

Brief history

1935 Nobel

Prize in Physics

1936 Nobel

Prize in Physics

1933 Nobel

Prize in Physics

All these discoveries have opened the way to Quantum Physics… but we prefer now to focus on the use of radioactivity in the world…

Use of radioactivity

At the beginning of the 20th CenturyIn various applications

Very serious such as medicineMore strange such as addition of radium in drinking water, soda, soap, toothpaste, wool, butter, chocolate… even in condoms !!

Use of radioactivity

NowadaysMedicine

Therapeutic applications / Diagnostic applications

DatingHistory 14C dating / Geologic dating / Wine dating

Biology - FoodMetabolism research / Sterilization

IndustriesAeronautic / Smoke alarm

Military applicationsNuclear powered / Atomic bomb

EnergyNuclear power plants

Use of radioactivity

Generation of energy is responsive for a large dissemination of radioactivity in the environment. So, we will focus on nuclear power plants to better understand the context of our project…