Contribution

Recombinant fusion proteins

The core of our lab work was designing and expressing the recombinant fusion proteins for our test, VeriFied. Seven of our ten recombinant fusion proteins consist of an anti-HSA-nanobody connected to a NanoLuc fragment with a flexible peptide linker. We successfully expressed and extracted five different fusion proteins, and purified one of them. The NanoLuc fragments of our fusion proteins folded functionally in the periplasm as proved by luminescence measurements. You can find more details about our proteins here, our results related to protein expression and purification here, and the protocols we used here.

Our plasmid designs are modular: the nanobody sequences can be swapped for other nanobody sequences targeting either other HSA epitopes or completely different biomarkers, and the NanoLuc fragment can be replaced with another reporter enzyme. This flexibility makes our constructs a useful template for future iGEM teams interested in developing other enzyme fragment complementation assays.

HSA oxidation

We contributed new experimental data to the understudied, though especially medically relevant, area of HSA oxidation using our own test, VeriFied, Ellman’s assay, and nanoDSF. These findings are preliminary but nonetheless provide indicative data for future teams or researchers working on HSA-related applications.

With VeriFied, we gathered preliminary data indicating that exposure to air over time alters HSA structure in a way that decreases the affinity of the used nanobodies leading to a reduced luminescence signal. With nanoDSF, our preliminary results suggest that oxidized HSA may have a lower conformational stability than reduced HSA. While these findings are not conclusive, they provide a starting point for future studies on HSA oxidation. You can find more about our results here.

HSA purification

We aimed to develop a simple and low-cost method for purifying HSA from blood, focusing on separating it from hemoglobin, which interferes with many analytical methods. Through iterative testing and optimization, we created a protocol that reduces hemoglobin background, improving the reliability of many spectrophotometric measurements.

This protocol may be useful for future iGEM teams or labs seeking accessible approaches to purify HSA from blood. You can find our protocol used for HSA purification here and the related DBTL cycle here.

In Finland, there are no dedicated institutes for forensic science technology. For this reason, our Human Practices work began by engaging directly with end-users, and along the way our stakeholder list grew broader. Our primary end-users are crime scene investigators, whose perspectives helped us confirm the need for our tool, VeriFied, and define the core requirements of the proposed test. Forensic chemists and police quality managers were the second major stakeholder group we consulted. Their input gave us a clear picture of existing crime scene analysis techniques and the rigorous process required for validating new forensic tools. Synthetic biology professionals played a key role in shaping the scientific solutions behind VeriFied, while lawyers provided essential insights into the justice system, allowing us to identify the correct application of the test: guiding the pretrial investigation rather than being used directly in court. Finally, ethics professors helped us rule out ethical concerns related to both the use of the test and the way it might be communicated or marketed.

We are proud of our Human Practices work! Consulting a wide range of stakeholders supported us at every step of the project. Our approach considered not only end-users but also the broader field of forensics and, even widely, the justice system as a whole. For future iGEM teams, we strongly recommend engaging with multiple groups of stakeholders. In projects with societal impact, especially in forensic applications, it is vital to understand how a tool fits within the entire system, not just the immediate user’s workflow.

Our aims with our IHP work were to ensure that our project was not only scientifically feasible but also ethically sound, legally grounded, and practically useful. By implementing stakeholder feedback into our design, we wanted our test to be in-demand and responsible. We aimed to understand the limitations of our approach, clarify where it can and cannot be applied, and align its design with the actual needs of investigators in the field.

This is why we encourage future teams to:

• Begin engaging with stakeholders early in the project, even if there are no formal institutes or obvious partners in the field.


• Consult across disciplines, not only end-users but also experts in law, ethics, and adjacent sciences. It is also important to consider the general public!


• Accept that projects may need to shift focus, ours evolved from a potential courtroom tool to one meant for pretrial investigation.


• Communicate openly about limitations and margins of error to avoid overstating capabilities.

Through IHP, our team clarified the role of VeriFied: a supportive tool for investigators in the early stages of crime scene analysis. This framing came directly from expert input. Our design priorities - simplicity, portability, non-destructiveness, and clear interpretation were shaped by real investigative needs. Legal and ethical perspectives helped us avoid misuse and prevent overclaiming accuracy. Future iGEM teams can learn from our process that strong Human Practices work is not just about validating a project, it is about co-creating it with the people and systems it is meant to serve.

ABOA’s story began in 2019, and since then, each team has shared a strong focus on education and the promotion of synthetic biology. Our team continued this tradition with the aim of inspiring upper secondary students, who are beginning to explore university programs and make decisions about their future studies.

We started by visiting local upper secondary schools in Turku to introduce students to the basics of synthetic biology and to possible study paths. At the same time, we carried out surveys that shaped the development of a Finnish-language educational material package. In creating the package, we additionally collaborated with Otaniemi High School, which has a national science high school development task, and with experts from the Lukema network, dedicated to advancing science education. Together, we ensured the content highlighted real-world applications of biotechnology and synthetic biology, and also included problem-based examples to strengthen concept understanding.

ince the Finnish high schools’ curriculum does not yet allow space for a dedicated synthetic biology course, we created a flexible resource that can be used for self-study or adapted into existing lessons. Beyond creating materials, we established a strong foundation of contacts, resources, and ideas to support future Finnish iGEM teams in continuing our work, advancing synthetic biology education in Finland.

We also engaged with different communities by recording our own podcast, ABOA Archives, on Spotify, releasing educational posts on Instagram, and creating a game about antibiotic resistance. To reach the wider public, we organized events for various age groups. Continuing the tradition of past ABOA teams, we hosted a workshop for children about viruses and vaccines at the Heureka Science Center in collaboration with the Aalto-Helsinki iGEM team. In Turku, we transformed a local library into a mini crime laboratory, where visitors could explore the basics of synthetic biology and modern forensic methods. Through these activities, we aim to inspire future iGEM teams to create engaging and accessible events that spark curiosity and promote mutual learning.