Super_BIOtech

https://drive.google.com/file/d/17ui1XHmuqNOajGPziKHQ8rzAe0h8Y75k/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Nso5DFatBZLdIPSzUk3ZMCDHRz3NftBF/view?usp=sharing

Currently, our planet is under stress! You are maybe wondering about that but this is the truth Since many global issues appear and still do. One of these issues is desertification which is considered as one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time. It is defined as land degradation in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas, collectively known as drylands, resulting from many factors, including human activities.  In addition, this issue lead to series of consequences such as climatic changes which drive a remarkable decline in vegetation. Vegetation is an essential part of our planet. So, regeneration of this system is necessary for

plant’s survival. However, our planet is marvelous as it has surprising superpowers. It is all about

figuring out these hidden superpowers. Here, we put our solution by utilizing a unique microorganism known tardigrade. This organism was sent by NASA in one of their missions

to the moon and they were amazed about this organism returning alive to earth despite the

Circumstances.

Actually, this fact is referred to the spectacular features that tardigrade has. It shows resistance against ionizing radiation, desiccation, pressure, and extreme and low temperature. As biotechnologists we are looking for living organisms as superheroes to improve our lives,

in this regard. we come up with the idea of exploiting tardigrade’s ability to tolerate desiccation to solve the problem of desertification. Tardigrade’s genomes contain a unique gene coding for a protein known as tardigrade-specific intrinsically disordered proteins (TDPs). (TDPs) when expressed by tardigrades it will produce crystal like structure that will form a protective layer surrounding their bodies .thus, providing protection against this unfavorable conditions till. moreover, This protein was tested in many heterologous systems, and it showed the same result as in tardigrades for desiccation tolerance. We are going to isolate this gene and by utilizing DNA recombinant technology we are going to clone and overexpress this gene in Agrobacterium species through their Ti-plasmid then we will infect the plants with it. the (TDPs) gene now is integrated in the plant cell chromosome. Thus, the new plant generations will show desiccation tolerance . In this way, we can minimize

desertification and regenerate the vegetation system.

The tools we need is a biotechnological laboratory to do and proof the experiment, also we need computers to collect and analyze the data we got from the experiment. The new novel plants will be then tested in a real dryland . by this way we are going to regenerate the lands and avoid desertification and its long term effects on our planet.

We used Nasa data to learn about space bears, knowing that these tiny animals survive in extreme environments and their ability to go into an a metabolic state by shutting down all the sort of life processes that are going on inside of them, curling up in little ball-like structure known as a tun. This data inspired us to look for the substances in tardigrades bodies that help them resist extreme circumstances. the specific protein called TDPs in tardigrades could be helpful in decreasing desertification by inserting these proteins in plants since desertification is a reduction in the productivity of the land that is not reversible. In other words, the land is dry when it can no longer support the same plant growth it had in the past, and the change is permanent on a human time scale as provided from earth observatory NASA.

Our space apps experience was valuable, we enhanced our teamwork skills and improved our creative and critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Our inspiration is our major which is biotechnology, biotechnologists inspect living organisms to make technologies that improve our planet. We as biotechnologists believe that our planet has plenty of microorganisms that help to keep our planet livable, these organisms deserve to be considered superheroes, this challenge is a great chance to demonstrate the significance of these tiny creatures. A lot of thanks for every one help us and a lot of thanks for team members for their hard under the Shahin cyclone conditions.

https://www.nasa.gov/johnson/HWHAP/water-bears-in-space

https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/Desertification/desertification2.php

Tardigrades Use Intrinsically Disordered Proteins to Survive Desiccation (nih.gov)

Chapter 3 : Desertification — Special Report on Climate Change and Land (ipcc.ch)

#biology #biotechnology #water-bear #tardigrades #desertification

This project has been submitted for consideration during the Judging process.