To learn how we came up with our topic you can visit our Human Practices page!

Parts

As part of our scientific contributions, we designed 10 new parts for comparing IFs variants to find structures suitable for improved B12. Additionally, we designed 2 new parts for expressing cubilin domains 5-8, with the original plan of assessing IF-cubilin binding. The constructs include both basic and composite parts, optimised for expression in K. phaffii and E. coli. Together, they form a modular toolkit that enables future iGEM teams to study vitamin B12–binding mechanisms across different organisms. For a complete list of parts and links to the registry, visit our Parts page.

Computational and Protocol Contributions

To improve data analysis efficiency and ensure reproducibility, we developed a set of Python-based analysis pipelines that automate the processing and visualisation of experimental results. These tools were designed to make data interpretation more consistent and adaptable for other iGEM teams working on similar biochemical assays.

Our scripts include:

• B12 binding assay data processing, which automates parsing of raw absorbance measurements (A280 and A361), calculates protein and B12 concentrations, corrects for baselines, computes binding efficiencies, and summarizes protein recovery. The pipeline also generates plots comparing bound and unbound B12, standard curves, and raw absorbance for all samples. Click here for the code
• ELISA data processing and visualisation, which automatically performs background subtraction, applies dilution corrections, summarizes absorbance values, and generates standard curve fits, providing clear and comparable results across multiple plates. Click here for the code
• CD spectroscopy data processing and analysis, which automatically performs buffer subtraction, smoothing, and polynomial fitting of ellipticity spectra, and estimates secondary structure content, enabling reproducible visualization and comparison of protein conformations. Click here for the code
• Plastic consumption and waste tracking, which automatically summarises quantities, estimated mass, and material types for commonly used lab consumables, providing clear visualizations of plastic usage. Click here for the code

All analysis scripts are open-source and fully documented, allowing other teams to reuse, modify, and integrate them into their own experimental workflows. Each script includes input format specifications, example datasets, and output interpretation guidelines to enhance reproducibility.

In addition, we prepared and refined numerous laboratory protocols across many of our 14 experiments and four measurements with an additional X-ray chromatography protocol. The full set of available protocols can be accessed through our Experiments page, providing a practical and adaptable resource for future teams.

Human Practices

As part of our Human Practices work, we conducted a survey of the general public, focusing on knowledge and attitudes towards B12 deficiency, intrinsic factor, and the use of genetic engineering in supplements. This is because public perception is crucial to the adoption of new oral supplements, as societal trust in GMOs and new health products can determine their acceptance and market success. When conducting similar research, future teams can easily adapt our survey to their own Human Practices activities, saving time and ensuring consistent, good quality data collection. The survey (with its questions, logic and response rules)

Education

BioLingua

To make biology more accessible across languages and educational backgrounds, we developed BioLingua, an interactive mobile application featuring quizzes and study modules on synthetic biology, laboratory techniques, and molecular biology. The app currently supports nine languages: English, Finnish, Turkish, French, Russian, German, Swedish, Chinese, and Bengali. This allows learners to explore scientific concepts in the language of their choice. Thus enabling people of all ages, including high school students and university learners, to grasp new complex topics or revisit them in a new language, helping to break down linguistic and accessibility barriers in science education. BioLingua is a valuable resource for future iGEM teams and biology learners worldwide, enabling them to learn, collaborate, and innovate regardless of their language background.

Educational Video Series

Our contribution to the iGEM community, includes a series of short, animated, and narrated videos designed for social media platforms and accessible to diverse audiences. The videos aim to make biology more engaging while raising awareness about the issue our project addresses. To achieve this, the series is divided into two themes: Synthetic Biology Fundamentals and Vitamin B12 Awareness. Each video has subtitles to support learners from different linguistic and educational backgrounds, thus ensuring that the content remains inclusive and understandable across audiences. Together, these videos serve as accessible educational resources for both the iGEM community and the general public, promoting inclusive science communication and sparking broader interest in biology and synthetic biology. In addition, the simple and adaptable format of our videos may inspire future teams to develop their own educational and outreach materials, further strengthening science communication within the iGEM community.

Legacy Work

To ensure long-term stability and smoother transitions for future Aalto-Helsinki teams, we modernised and improved several key aspects of our iGEM association’s structure:

• Updated the association rules to align with current Finnish laws.
• Simplified book-keeping and documentation, making financial records transparent and accessible for future teams.
• Strengthened the alumni and sponsor network through meetups, collaborative events and maintaining contact with past team members, mentors, and sponsors.

These actions will make it easier for future teams to focus on research and innovation, without having to re-learn administrative processes each year. They also further strengthen the support system surrounding the Aalto-Helsinki iGEM team.