BME100 f2014:Group4 L6
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Perfect Consumer Robot: The PCR machine that everyone can use
LAB 6 WRITE-UPBayesian StatisticsOverview of the Original Diagnosis System Through the polymerase chain reaction, DNA of patients can be tested in order to determine if the disease is connected to the SNP. In order to do this, a patients DNA must have been isolated and placed into a solution with base pairs, TAQ polymerase, and specific primers. After having many random students submit their DNA for a disease marker, thirty four different teams each went through the diagnostic process in order to analyze this DNA with each team responsible for two patients with a given three replicate DNA samples for a total of 68 strands tested. The data then went into a spreadsheet and when analyzed can determine whether the patient had a disease-associated SNP or not. In order to get accurate results and not misdiagnose, several precautions were taken. For one, each patient's DNA was tested three times for a total of 204 reaction trials in order to compare data and account for any human or computer error which could easily occur. In addition the work of dealing with so many patients was split up into several small groups with each group handling only two. As long as each group's work proved consistent, all the tests would be accurate and the testing would be finished with a comparatively low amount of work load and more in-depth care to precaution to each group's personal patients. Another thing that can often cause discrepancies is the PCR machine. The PCR machine must have had the same procedure and set-up for each trial and also include controls – positive and negative – to have a reliable source of comparison. Other mistakes can occur with the data analysis as interpretation is subjective. Therefore with pre-determined procedure and regulation, this can also prevented. The images taken from the experiment and were analyzed with a fluorescent agent activated with the disease-associated SNP measured through the only program known as ImageJ. Because three pictures were taken, if there was a bad image in that trial, the other two pictures could compensate to still produce accurate results. In this group, only two people worked together in order to analyze these pictures. Because the same person is analyzing these images, there is more accuracy between the different trials of each group. In order to preserve consistency between each group, specific instructions on how to analyze were provided with the activity. The data was then collected in a large spreadsheet and is fairly accurate due to the number of trials, consistency, and the many steps taken to ensure minimal error. Below is the class data:
Computer-Aided DesignTinkerCAD TinkerCad is an helpful 3D software which has pre-programmed shapes and tools which can be used to build a device much like staking legos on top of each other. In order to design the new system for this project, TinkerCad was used to model it. By importing the designs for the basic PCR machine, it can be used as a base template to make accommodations accordingly in order to develop a modified PCR system using the tools given on the sidebar. These tools on the sidebar helped with measuring parts of the system and aligning these parts together to create a virtual well-fitted machine. TinkerCad makes 3D modeling easy by providing easy step by step tutorials of the functions available.
Our Design
Feature 1: Consumables KitThe following items will be in the Consumables Kit – Parts List:
The new and improved consumables kit will come with clear plastic vials, a new and improved micro-pipette with two refillable cartridges. If requested more refillable cartridges can be bought with extra cost. In addition there will be an insulated container holding the reagents and another specific black insulated container holding the SYBR Green with five medium-sized black vials which can be separated from the packaging box. These re-attachable vials can help reduce contamination of the whole box as only a specific amount – enough to fill the vial – will be taken out at a time. In addition this will maximize the amount of trials that can be conducted as different teams can work on separate projects with the same SYBR Green base container. This way the black vials can be taken to a different location where the trial can be taken place and so another team would not need to locate where the SYBR Green is every time that group needs to re-fill as the SYBR Green will be in a base location. The black vials will also help keep out the light as the SYBR Green is being transported to different locations. One of the negative aspects about the kit that the group noticed during this experimentation was the number of pipette tips used in the lab as a whole. The pipette tip needed to be replaced as each different liquid is handled. This meant that the pipette tip needed to be inserted then the liquid dispersed then the tip dispensed leading to extensive amount of time placed into just the set-up of the pipette. Therefore, in this new consumables kit, a new type of pipette is introduced. This pipette would have a cartridge like system inserted into the pipette itself and a new button on top which when pressed would slide a tip to the front and secure it to the mouth of the pipette. Then the normal eject button on the pipette would be used to dispense the tip as normal. Feature 2: Hardware - PCR Machine & FluorimeterPCR machine Fluorimeter Using the fluorimeter was a complicated process with the many different variables that could affect the results. One of the weaknesses of gathering data from the fluorimeter, was configuring the distance between the phone deck and the place of the actual fluorimeter device. During the entire experimentation, when moving the black box to block out the light and the different trials with moving the glass plate around, the distance between the camera and the fluorimeter kept shifting. Team four therefore had to re-measure the distance between these two objects constantly wasting precious time trying to get consistent data. Another weakness that was noticed during the experimentation was the problem of fitting the phone into the phone stand to take the picture. Due to the latest phone updates as larger tablet-size phones are becoming the norm, the new phones fall out of the phone stands. Luckily team four’s group had a couple of older iPhones which could work in place of the latest iPhone6s which would fall down if placed onto the phone stand. In order to fix these problems, team four decided to attach an adjustable phone deck onto the fluorimeter. The phone holder can be adjusted to snugly fit different kinds of phones onto it by adjusting the width, height, and thickness of the holder which can be tightened to hold the phone in place. This phone holder will on the base will be connected to the base of the fluorimeter. In the space between a ruler measurement will be inscribed onto the machine. The phone holder will then be able to slide on the ruler base towards the fluorimeter or away and adjusted to the appropriate distance in order to take a picture.
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Feature 1: Consumables Kit
The following items will be in the Consumables Kit – Parts List:
- Gloves
- SYBR Green with special black vials
- Taq Polymerase
- dNTPs
- Buffer Solution
- Micropipette
- 2 Refillable micropipette tip cartridges
- Primer
- Clear vials
The new and improved consumables kit will come with clear plastic vials, a new and improved micro-pipette with two refillable cartridges. If requested more refillable cartridges can be bought with extra cost. In addition there will be an insulated container holding the reagents and another specific black insulated container holding the SYBR Green with five medium-sized black vials which can be separated from the packaging box. These re-attachable vials can help reduce contamination of the whole box as only a specific amount – enough to fill the vial – will be taken out at a time. In addition this will maximize the amount of trials that can be conducted as different teams can work on separate projects with the same SYBR Green base container. This way the black vials can be taken to a different location where the trial can be taken place and so another team would not need to locate where the SYBR Green is every time that group needs to re-fill as the SYBR Green will be in a base location. The black vials will also help keep out the light as the SYBR Green is being transported to different locations. One of the negative aspects about the kit that the group noticed during this experimentation was the number of pipette tips used in the lab as a whole. The pipette tip needed to be replaced as each different liquid is handled. This meant that the pipette tip needed to be inserted then the liquid dispersed then the tip dispensed leading to extensive amount of time placed into just the set-up of the pipette. Therefore, in this new consumables kit, a new type of pipette is introduced. This pipette would have a cartridge like system inserted into the pipette itself and a new button on top which when pressed would slide a tip to the front and secure it to the mouth of the pipette. Then the normal eject button on the pipette would be used to dispense the tip as normal.
Feature 2: Hardware - PCR Machine & Fluorimeter
PCR machine
Fluorimeter
Using the fluorimeter was a complicated process with the many different variables that could affect the results. One of the weaknesses of gathering data from the fluorimeter, was configuring the distance between the phone deck and the place of the actual fluorimeter device. During the entire experimentation, when moving the black box to block out the light and the different trials with moving the glass plate around, the distance between the camera and the fluorimeter kept shifting. Team four therefore had to re-measure the distance between these two objects constantly wasting precious time trying to get consistent data. Another weakness that was noticed during the experimentation was the problem of fitting the phone into the phone stand to take the picture. Due to the latest phone updates as larger tablet-size phones are becoming the norm, the new phones fall out of the phone stands. Luckily team four’s group had a couple of older iPhones which could work in place of the latest iPhone6s which would fall down if placed onto the phone stand. In order to fix these problems, team four decided to attach an adjustable phone deck onto the fluorimeter. The phone holder can be adjusted to snugly fit different kinds of phones onto it by adjusting the width, height, and thickness of the holder which can be tightened to hold the phone in place. This phone holder will on the base will be connected to the base of the fluorimeter. In the space between a ruler measurement will be inscribed onto the machine. The phone holder will then be able to slide on the ruler base towards the fluorimeter or away and adjusted to the appropriate distance in order to take a picture.
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