Transgenic biosensor
AssigneeNemaMetrix Inc.
InventorsChristopher E. Hopkins, Miluka Gunaratna
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Abstract
Systems and methods relate to transgenic organisms and their use as biosensors are described. In some embodiments, the systems and methods include a first population of transgenic organisms that includes a first constitutively expressed reporter gene, and a first transgene that includes a first inducible promoter from a response pathway gene, wherein the first inducible promoter is coupled to a first reporter gene. Other embodiments are described.
Claims16
A population of transgenic nematodes divided into two or more physically separated groups, wherein each transgenic nematode of the population comprises in its genome:
- a) an inducible promoter region operably linked to a first inducible reporter gene encoding a first fluorescent protein, wherein the inducible promoter region is from a nematode response pathway gene expressed in response to an external stimulus;
- and,
- b) a constitutive promoter operably linked to a constitutively expressed reporter gene encoding a second fluorescent protein wherein the constitutively expressed reporter gene normalizes expression of the inducible reporter gene;
- whereby the transgenic nematodes are configured as a whole organism biosensor for detecting alteration in gene expression as a response to exposure to an external stimulus and,
- wherein the first and second fluorescent protein fluoresce at detectably different wavelengths.
A population of transgenic nematodes divided into two or more physically separated groups, wherein each transgenic nematode of the population comprises in its genome:
- a) an inducible promoter region operably linked to a red fluorescent protein gene encoding a red fluorescent protein, wherein the inducible promoter region is from a nematode response pathway gene expressed in response to an external stimulus;
- and,
- b) a constitutive promoter operably linked to a green fluorescent protein gene encoding a green fluorescent protein wherein the constitutively expressed reporter gene normalizes expression of the inducible reporter gene;
- whereby the transgenic nematodes are configured as a whole organism biosensor for detecting alteration in gene expression as a response to exposure to an external stimulus wherein the constitutive promoter normalizes effects of the external stimulus across the population of transgenic nematodes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.