Homework

Week 1 HW: Principles and Practices
Low-Cost Biosensors for Heavy Metal Detection Application/Tool Description The proposed tool is a cell-free synthetic biology biosensor designed to detect lead and arsenic in drinking water. In many regions, including mining areas in Zambia like Kabwe, heavy metal contamination is a critical public health issue. Current detection methods rely on expensive, centralized laboratory equipment (ICP-MS) that is inaccessible to rural communities. This tool would utilize engineered genetic circuits—specifically transcription factors that respond to metal ions—to trigger a color change (chromogenic output) visible to the naked eye. By using “cell-free” systems (freeze-dried extracts), we eliminate the risk of releasing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the environment while providing a rapid, low-cost diagnostic tool for local water safety.