GLOWGURT Bioluminescent Yogurt Pedro Garcia Lisa Nguyen Nicole

GLOW-GURT Bioluminescent Yogurt Pedro Garcia Lisa Nguyen Nicole Robinson Raj Patel 6/18/2015

THE USUAL YOGURT PRODUCTION METHODS WILL NEED TO BE ADJUSTED

THERE ARE TWO BACTERIAL STRAINS THAT COULD BE ALTERED Streptococcus thermophilus Lactobacillu s bulgaricus

BIOLUMINESCENCE IS THE KEY TO GLOWING YOGURT Bioluminescence: the production and emission of light from a living organism Not fluorescence! Bioluminescent genes are in many organisms, including fireflies, glow worms, and bacteria found on certain squid species.

A. FISCHERI IS GREAT FOR SQUID AND YOGURT! The entire genome has been sequenced. The light emitting genes have been identified. Genes are located on a 9 kb fragment of DNA. E. coli are commonly transformed with these genes. The plasmids is available and ready for production. A. fischeri likes cool temperatures.

S. THERMOPHILUS IS NOT AS EASY TO TRANSFORM AS E. COLI No chemical methods work to induce competence in S. thermophilus (unlike E. coli). Using artificial pheromones is complicated and requires linear DNA. We propose electroporation.

ELECTROPORATION IS A VERSATILE AND EFFICIENT TRANSFORMATION TECHNIQUE Accurately pulsed electric currents poke holes in the phospholipid bilayer of cells

SOME SPECIFICS MUST WAIT FOR SMALLSCALE TESTING Concentration Temperature Voltage Timing

MASS PRODUCTION CONSIDERATIONS What are possible complications of producing S. thermophilus in large quantities? What effects might the production and distribution process have on luminescence? Is there a shelf life for luminescence?

POTENTIAL CONCERNS: Environmental Safety Release of antibiotic-resistant glowing yogurt cultures into the environment? Could genetically modified bacteria compete with wild bacteria?

POTENTIAL CONCERNS: Health and the Public Trust Human health: potential for allergic reactions? Public trust: public attitudes toward GMOs

OUR RECOMMENDATION Is Glow-Gurt feasible? Yes! In theory, it is absolutely possible to create glowing yogurt. Unknown variables remain Procedural details Scale-up obstacles Public perception of GMO food safety

OUR RECOMMENDATION Should Yummy Yogurt pursue development of Glow-Gurt? Our recommendation is YES! Similar procedures well documented Bench-top optimization inexpensive Yummy Yogurt’s expertise GM foods well established in US market Great potential for product success

The Best Choice! GLOW-GURT