Individual Final Project
SECTION 1: ABSTRACT
Provide a concise, self-contained summary of your project (minimum 150 words).
The abstract should allow a reader to understand the purpose, approach, and expected outcomes of the work without referring to other sections.
By selectively changing present genes and adding new ones to Zea Mays, the common maize, it may be able to redirect its energy from producing fruit to synthesizing masses of phyto-volatiles from phosphorous compounds from the soil, that may improve the activity of the whole crop field by increasing yield due to less pest induced stress, and reduce the need for dangerous, polluting chemicals. Furthermore, if it works accordingly, it may redirect farmer’s usage from nitrogen rich fertilizers that, not only are polluting the soil, having the industry dependent on expensive environmentally hazardous practices, to all purpose fertilizer, even manure, that reestablishes natural healthy ratios for soil and important, useful micro-life inside it.
Plants have significantly longer and more complex genomes (~2.3 Gb for corn) compared to any bacteria I recently reported to in any HTGAA homework- I’m waiting for week 12 :). So, first of all, I need to map out exactly how I intend to edit the genome and keep it stable over time, efficient and not a biosecurity hazard. The changes I targeted are mostly changing metabolic pathways, but the most complex/ tricky to achieve is having the plant not produce fruit at the same time, as that would waste too much energy. By it still being able to make fruit its seeds can be collected and sold more conveniently compared to grafts, cuttings or pups (corn is not a perennial plant), but by it being after the harvest, all energy goes into protecting the field; for reproductive meanings, it can be managed in a growing facility.
Precisely:
CRISPR-Cas9
Plant Tissue Culturing
CAMV35S promotor. I need to multiply the DNA => plasmid in bacteria
Project mapping questions:
What pathogens do the plant defend itself from?
Will they evolve to be resistant against it? How do I manage that?
What chemicals does it use, what molecule types?
phytoalexins, organophosphates, phenols, terpenes, alkaloids, lignans, glycosides, pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, insect growth regulators, sulfur compounds, essential oils?
- Is the common corn plant the best pick? I just need a plant to disperse chemical compounds, not be edible, and a completely different plant can also help in the absorption of surplus macronutrients and has more genetic variability that slows down pathogen infection. But it’s only the macronutrients that change, I can benefit from using a corn plant by having the same external factors needed for thriving and so, I t can be grown in the same conditions as the rest of the field
It may not be the best because of its potency and metabolic work, but it may be the most convenable for the average farmer and industries;
Downsides: there may be plants, bushes that grow back after being cut down annually that could synthesize my chemical of choice better and not needing as much genomic change.
Upsides: it grows with the same needs as commercial corn, no special care needed and by being the same plant same-kin activity in the monoculture may be beneficial. By using a different plant, mostly bushes, its efficiency can be decreased by either being too picky or too adaptable and hard to get rid of.
How do I improve specific metabolic activity/ what metabolic pathways do I change? How do I make it metabolically stable?
How do I get the plant to make more leaves (more surface area) + produce fruit later?
Can I make it absorb specific molecules?
How do I disperse the chemicals?
How do I specifically modify its genome?
Specific aims:
- Your abstract should briefly address the following elements:
a. Significance: What problem or question does the project address, and why is it important?
b. Broad Objective: What is the overall goal of the project?
c. Hypothesis: What prediction or principle is the project testing or demonstrating?
d. Specific Aims: What key steps or milestones will be completed to achieve the objective?
e. Methods: What experimental or technical approaches will be used?
SECTION 2: PROJECT AIMS
Define three aims for your final project (minimum one sentence per aim).
- Aim 1: Experimental Aim (this project):
a. “The first aim of my final project is to [achievable experimental goal] by utilizing [protocols, tools, or strategies].”
i. This aim should describe the core experimental objective you will attempt during this class. List or link any relevant methods or resources you plan to use (e.g., experimental protocols, automation workflows, DNA or protein designs, protein design tools, or Twist orders).
ii. You will provide a detailed step-by-step experimental plan for Aim 1 in the Experimental Design section of this assignment.
The first aim of my final project is to demonstrate practically that I can synthesize CRISPR-Cas9 via vector kit and use it accordingly on Zea mays’ genome (in select few cells) to cut out sequences and replace with metabolism altering genes and prove effective synthesis in vitro, by utilizing PCR, detection mechanism and plant tissue culture to generate a stable tissue I can further experiment on.
Empirically, I need to limit myself to quick and accessible methods to ensure real progress; nobody constricts me from working on my hypothesis even after HTGAA spring 2026 has ended. I can use electrophoresis on a to know the DNA has, at least, been changed.
Experimental goals:
Construct the CRISPR/Cas9 plasmid; order it
Construct the
Aim 2: Development Aim:
a. Describe the next step that would follow a successful Aim 1, extending the work beyond the scope of this course. This aim should represent a realistic progression of the project, such as executing additional experiments, solving a technical limitation, or developing the system or technology further.
Altering of large genome proportions to achieve great purpose.
- Aim 3: Visionary Aim:
a. Describe the long-term vision for the project. Explain how the broader concept could have an impact if fully realized.
b. Examples include:
i. Challenging an existing paradigm or clinical practice.
ii. Addressing a major barrier in a field.
iii. Enabling a new experimental capability or research approach.