Maria Babak: We’re diving back into the exciting world of iGEM
Maria Babak, Head of the Drug Discovery Lab at the City University of Hong Kong, shared on LinkedIn:
”Breaking News!
We’re excited to share that after a break, we’re diving back into the exciting world of iGEM! Of course, this wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support from City University of Hong Kong.
What is iGEM? The International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition is a global platform that celebrates the fusion of science, creativity, and innovation. Originally designed for undergraduate university students, iGEM has now expanded its horizons to include divisions for high school students, entrepreneurs, community laboratories, and even ‘overgraduates’—because learning knows no bounds!
Here’s how it works:
BioBricks and Genetic Engineering: At the start of summer, student teams receive the Distribution Kit, which contains standard, interchangeable genetic components known as BioBricks. These BioBricks include promoters, terminators, reporter elements, and plasmid backbones. Armed with these building blocks, teams work in their local laboratories to engineer biological systems. They can choose to build upon existing projects or create something entirely new.
Project Creation: Teams unleash their creativity, designing projects that involve multiple genes and mechanisms to regulate gene expression. The goal is to produce cells with novel and extraordinary properties. These engineered systems could revolutionize medicine, agriculture, or environmental sustainability.
Annual iGEM Jamboree: At the end of summer, teams from all corners of the globe converge at the iGEM Jamboree in Paris. Here, they present their projects to each other and a panel of approximately 120 scientific judges. In each division (High School, Undergraduate, and Overgraduate), the judges honor outstanding teams by awarding medals and special prizes, including the coveted titles of Grand Prize Winner and Runner-Up.
Medals and Criteria: Teams can earn medals based on specific criteria. For instance:
Bronze: Submitting a new BioBrick to the Parts Registry.
Silver: Documenting the functionality of a part.
Gold: Achieving a proof-of-principle for their project.
So, buckle up! Our team is ready to dive into the fascinating world of synthetic biology once again. Stay tuned for updates as we embark on our iGEM journey!”
Source: Maria Babak/LinkedIn
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