This thread is for documenting suggestions for new collections and toolkits for the Reclone Community.
If you want to suggest a specific DNA PART (e.g. an enzyme, promoter, affinity tag), go to: Send us your sequences! Updates to the Open DNA Collections
What is a Collection?
A collection is a set of particular “types” of DNA that forms a coherent set e.g. the Open Enzyme Collection is a set of coding sequences for enzymes, the Open Reporter Collection is a set of coding sequences for reporter genes. The theme may also be organismal e.g. Open Yeast Collection.
What is a Toolkit?
A toolkit is a set of DNA with a defined purpose that could bring together parts from different collections to create something that is immediately useful for the end user. For example, the Molecular Diagnostics/Research in Diagnostics Toolkit is a “ready to go” collection of expression plasmids for molecular diagnostics. The E.coli protein expression toolkit contains everything you need to get started expressing protein in E.coli.
There could be significant overlap between toolkits, so individual parts which belong in several toolkits.
What collections and toolkits already exist?
You can find a list on the Reclone website Shared Reagents – Reagent Collaboration Network
Add your ideas!
Respond to this thread with your idea and a brief rationale for why you think a new collection or toolkit is needed. Details to include:
- what will be in it?
- what is it’s purpose?
- why it is useful to the scientific community (beyond just your lab!)
- are you willing to lead the team to design the new collection, or are you looking for others to take this idea and run with it?
The Reclone Community has no specific funding for DNA synthesis of new collection but between us we have a number of resources to leverage to make useful and important tools and resources a reality. Let’s work together to create the open source tools that biologists need!
Existing Ideas for New Toolkits - awaiting curators!
Here are some ideas that already came up from members of the community and are looking for ideas, endorsement curators. Post on this thread or start another one on the specific topic, to contribute to one of these ideas.
| Collection | Purpose | Example parts |
|---|---|---|
| Systems biology | The toolkit for investigation. Contains parts to help with troubleshooting and testing other designs, in addition to those useful for fundamental research. | Promoters sensitive to stress responses, parts for CRISPR screens, fast-maturing reporters for gene expression dynamics |
| Food and drink | A toolkit for food and drink manufacturing. | Enzymes for converting sugars or for cheesemaking |
| Water | A toolkit for wastewater treatment and water purification applications. | Enzymes to degrade or coagulate organic and inorganic pollutants in water, parts to create water quality sensors |
| Cleaning and hygiene | A toolkit for producing products which help us manage contaminants and microbes in the world around us | Enzymes to produce (or that act as) soaps, clothes washing detergents, and other cleaning products |
| Textiles | A toolkit for enzymes which enable textile manufacturing (such as by producing and binding pigments to cloth) | Enzymes which produce various pigments |
