The 2021 International Genetically Engineering Machine Competition (iGEM) closed on November 14, 2021, and CSU_CHINA won a gold award again and got a nomination for Best Software Tool. Undergraduates of CSU have participated in iGEM since 2018, and won silver awards in 2018, gold awards in 2019 and 2020 respectively.

List of some winners of gold awards

Nominations for Best Software Tool

iGEM Introduction

International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM) is an interdisciplinary and international authoritative academic competition centered on synthetic biology, involving biology, computer science, mathematics and other disciplines, intended for encouraging students to actively innovate and change the world with innovations. It is an international top technology competition for college students in the field of synthetic biology and one of the most influential world-class academic competitions for college students.

A total of 343 registered teams participated in 2021 iGEM, including those from world-known universities such as MIT and Stanford University, as well as domestic famous universities covering Peking University, Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, USTC, Fudan University.

Live Broadcast of 2021 iGEM Virtual Giant Jamboree

Team Introduction

CSU_CHINA consists of 25 undergraduates from the School of Life Sciences, XiangYa School of Medicine, School of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, School of Geosciences and Info-physics, School of Law, and School of Architecture and Art, and led by Wang Zeyuan, an undergraduate majoring in biological sciences from 2019 advanced class.

Photo of Team Members

CSU_CHINA won a gold award in 2021 iGEM for its Sweet Guard——"Accurate Glucose Regulation". There are currently about 5 out of 100 patients suffering from type I diabetes which generally begins in children or teenagers, and partially in adulthood. Among children and teenage patients, type I accounts for about 80%~90% with a globally increasing incidence. According to data from WHO in 2000, China has an annual incidence of 0.59/100,000 of type I diabetes in children. Therefore, CSU_CHINA gets involved in this field, and builds a genetic engineering loop for precise control of insulin synthesis based on synthetic biology, which not only regulates insulin synthesis according to blood glucose concentration, but also prevents hypoglycemia induced by hyperinsulinemia, thus providing a new idea for the treatment of type I diabetes.

With mature embedding technique, this device implants engineering cells subcutaneously, and promotes insulin synthesis at high blood glucose concentration (such as after meals) through blue light irradiation; furthermore, it senses the insulin concentration in blood to timely cut off the pathway in case of low glucose concentration, thus ensuring the safety of patients. This program aims to provide a new idea for the treatment of type I diabetes, so as to improve the quality of their life.

Diagram of device workflow

Schematic diagram of device

With the cooperation of all members, CSU_CHINA has successfully designed the experiment, carried out a ton of social practice, interviews and propaganda activities, and built a mathematical model for the experiment. During the preparations for iGEM, all members gave full play to their professional expertise and realized the social mission of synthetic biology. Based on a lot of practices, the current outcomes show that the program has broad prospects and has been recognized by the iGEM Committee.

"As a continuation of ‘three consecutive gold awards’ and a breakthrough in single awards, our program won gold awards in bio+ and iGEM and got a nomination for modeling award this year, which benefits from the careful guidance of teachers and the team unity, and gives us strength to overcome difficulties." the team leader Wang Zeyuan excitedly said. "Nine months ago, when facing our loop diagram, I thought it was impossible to realize it. Nine months later, we miraculously accomplished such a magical task. Through iGEM, I not only met a group of like-minded friends, but also found a new self", “I never thought that synthetic biology was my first field of research, but its inclusiveness and richness show me the life sciences full of infinite possibilities and colors." Team members wrote down their feelings and recorded this exciting moment when the results came out.

This program relies on the scientific research platform of Medical Genetics Research Center of School of Life Sciences and is completed under the guidance of many teachers such as Li Shanni, Li Jiada, Li Chiyu, Liang Ye, Li Jie and Chen Meiming. This competition was strongly supported by the Undergraduate College and the School of Life Sciences of CSU.

Copywriter | Li Zhuoyao, Chen Meiming

Pictures | CSU_CHINA Internet

Editor | Li Ruoyan

Reviewer | Yin Tiantian

Executive Editor |Wang Xuan, Deng Haodi

Source:https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/MrF91W2rVxnlWE-CBZkHvg