Upon the completion of our recruitment process, we are proud to introduce our group members: Wet Lab Group: Yuetong Ge, Qiyu Tan, Yueting Guo, Ziyan Qin, Qiuyan Wang, Mingcong Li, Hepeng Wang.
At our first general meeting, all members met each other for the first time. Led by our PI and team leader, we introduced ourselves and clarified the upcoming tasks.
We had 3 meetings online in total. Each member of the experiment group share one gold medal project which they thought was a example of a good iGEM project,and analysed the advantages and highlights of the project. In this process, we’d come to learn what is a good iGEM project.
Since we decided to develop a breast cancer detecting project, we began searching for available methods that could make our project possible and then looking for more papers on breast cancer to improve our understanding of the disease.
During this period, we conducted extensive research with the HP team to understand the needs and perspectives of both the general public and medical professionals regarding breast cancer detection. This led us to design a breast cancer recurrence monitoring system capable of maintaining long-term functionality in vivo while providing detectable readouts ex vivo.
We found studies in the literature on the related properties of cancer-associated adipocytes (CAAs), which suggested that adipocytes have a function in response to changes in their surrounding breast cancer and may serve as a chassis for detection systems. We began an extensive literature search to understand the relationship between CAA and breast cancer. We also collect different sensing technology that can may be compatible with our objectives and communicate with model group to try to find the targets.
To investigate whether adipocytes could serve as our engineering chassis cells, we collaborated with the HP group to conduct interviews with surgeons. These interviews focused on the application of autologous fat grafting technology in post-mastectomy reconstruction and breast augmentation surgeries. The positive feedback from our collaborative interviews with the HP group, which explored the clinical use of adipocytes in procedures like breast reconstruction, confirmed their suitability. This confirmation led us to finally select adipocytes as our engineering chassis cells and proceed with the investigation into biomarkers and output signals.
Our investigation into Cancer-Associated Adipocytes (CAAs) revealed that the transformation from normal adipocytes to CAAs involves the specific upregulation of multiple genes. During our survey of reporter genes, we identified two potential methods for ex vivo signal output: Gaussia Luciferase (Gluc) and melanin. Based on these findings, we began searching for a detection tool capable of sensing the upregulation of endogenous mammalian genes and featuring an editable signal output module.
Following discussions with the HP group, we finalized Gluc as the output method for our detection system and, acting on interviewees' recommendations, initiated extensive literature research to preliminarily identify target genes that are specifically upregulated in response to factors secreted by breast cancer cells.
During this phase, we have selected four candidate target genes: PLOD2 (upregulated by PAI-1), LIF (upregulated by CXCLs), Fam3c (upregulated by TGF-β), and IL-6 (upregulated by IL-1β).
Through literature research, we have identified three detection techniques suitable for our project.We selected RADAR (adenosine deaminase based programmable RNA sensor technology), CASP sensor (RNA sensing technology based on CASP high sensitivity to detect single point mutations) and PAS aptamer (aptamer based detection technology for small molecule proteins) to achieve the detection of high-expressed genes in CAAs.
Collaborative interviews with the HP group highlighted accuracy as the most critical factor in diagnostic projects. Consequently, we decided to adopt the RADAR technology-capable of simultaneous multi-gene detection-as our core methodology to achieve precise breast cancer detection. Building on this foundation, we partnered with the Modeling team to conduct screening analyses of different gene combinations, ultimately identifying PLOD2 and LIF as our target genes for detection.
Upon finalizing the RADAR system as the core of our project, we conducted a thorough literature review and, based on the references, completed the experimental design for the proof-of-concept phase along with the construction of plasmid maps. Accordingly, we have compiled a comprehensive list of required experimental materials.
We have reviewed our overall progress at this stage and improved the general introduction about the project and clarified the background, solution and application scenarios of the project.
Under the guidance of our PI, we have already completed the plan of the proof-of-concept experiment. With the help of our instructor, we purchase the respective meterials in our proof-of-concept experiment plan.
Different students in the wet lab group were responsible for different parts. Yuetong Ge and Hepeng Wang carried out the design of RADAR. Qiyu Tan organized all of the parts we were going to use. Qiuyan Wang carried out the design of cell viability detection. Ziyan Qin finished the design of Gluc production as the output part. Mingcong Li and Yueting Guo carried out the design of verifying the target genes of adipocytes up-regulated by breast cancer secreted cytokines.
We listed and purchased the required experimental materials according to the designed experimental plan.
All members of experiment group traind together on laboratory safety.
For ease of recording, we numbered our plasmids according to the following table.
This week we transformed plasmids 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9 into DH5α.
This week we isolated plasmids 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9 and 3.1.
We digested plasmid 1.1-1.9 and performed agarose gel electrophoresis twice to verify that the plasmids were successfully transformed and isolated.
Round 1: Tested plasmid 1.3, 1.4, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9
Round 2: Tested plasmid 1.1, 1.2, 1.5
In Round 1 we noticed some of the plasmids' concentration were lower than we expected, so we configured 2 systems in Round 2 to ensure the concentration of our plasmids.
Table1: Digestion system of Round 1 (plasmid 1.3, 1.4, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9)
Table2: Digestion system of Round 2 (plasmid 1.1, 1.2, 1.5)
Figure 1: Profile of Round 1 (DNA mass 600ng)
Figure 2: Profile of Round 2 (DNA mass 600ng)
This week we transformed plasmids 3.1 into DH5α.
This week we isolated plasmid 1.2, 1.5, 3.1 in DH5α.
We performed agarose gel electrophoresis to confirm that the previous operations on plasmid 1.2, 1.5, 3.1 were successful.
(The arrows in the "Plasmid Concentration" column indicate dilution, for example, 8200→600 means dilute the plasmids from 8200ng/μL to 600ng/μL)
Table1: Digestion system of plasmid 1.2, 1.5, 3.1
Figure 2: Profile of digestion (DNA mass 600ng)
We digested the plasmids and performed agarose gel electrophoresis in 3 rounds, respectfully on 05/July, 06/July and 07/July.
Table1: Digestion system of Round 1(plasmid 1.1, 1.6)
Table2: Digestion system of Round 2(plasmid 1.1, 1.3, 1.6, 1.9)
Table3: Digestion system of Round 3(plasmid 1.1, 1.3, 1.6, 1.9)
Figure 1: Profile of round 1
Figure 2: Profile of round 2
Figure 3: Profile of round 3
We cultured bacteria and used maxiprep kit to extract more.
We extracted plasmid 1.2, 1.4 for a second time.
We digested the plasmids and performed agarose gel electrophoresis twice.
Table1: Digestion system of Round 1 (plasmid 1.1, 3.1, 1.8, 1.9)
Table2: Digestion system of Round 2 (plasmid 1.4)
Figure 1: Profile of Round 1 (DNA mass 600ng)
Figure 2: Profile of Round 2 (DNA mass 600ng)
This week we transformed plasmid 1.2 into DH5α.
We extracted plasmid 1.2 for the third time.
We digested the plasmid 1.2 and performed agarose gel electrophoresis.
Table1: Digestion system of plasmid 1.2
Figure 1: Profile of digestion (DNA mass 600ng)
This week we transformed plasmid 1.10,1.11 into DH5α
We extracted plasmid 1.10,1.11 for the first time.
We digested the plasmids 1.10,1.11 and performed agarose gel electrophoresis.
Figure 1: Profile of digestion (DNA mass 600 ng)
We revived HEK293T cells for future transfection experiments.
We passaged HEK293T cells for future transfection experiments.
We seed HEK293T cells in 24-well plates for subsequent transfection.
We transfected system1 (p1.1,1.2,1.3,1.8,1.9) to HEK293T cells and performed florescence imaging of EGFP and mCherry in transfected cells to explore the effectiveness of the RADAR system.
Table 1. List of transfection system
We passaged HEK293T cells for future transfection experiments.
We seed HEK293T cells in 24-well plates for subsequent transfection.
We transfected system2 (p1.1,1.4,1.5,1.8,1.9) to HEK293T cells and performed florescence imaging of EGFP and mCherry in transfected cells to explore the effectiveness of the RADAR system.
Table 1. List of transfection system
We passaged HEK293T cells for future transfection experiments.
We seed HEK293T cells in two 24-well plates for subsequent transfection.
We transfected HEK293T cells with plasmid 3.1 to express the Gaussia luciferase (Gluc).
Figure 1: Luminescence of culture supernatant from HEK293T cells collected at 24h, 48h and 72h after transfection.
Figure 2: Analysis of sustained luminescence over 25 minutes between kinetics of luminescence production from Gluc.
We extracted plasmid 1.6,1.7 for the first time and plasmind 1.10,1.11 for a second time.
The concentration of plasmid maxiprep are as follows:
We digested the plasmids and performed agarose gel electrophoresis in 2 rounds.
Round 1: Tested plasmid 1.6,1.11
Round 2: Tested plasmid 1.6,1.7,1.10
Figure 1: Profile of round1 (DNA mass 600 ng)
Figure 2: Profile of round2 (DNA mass 600 ng)
We digested the plasmids and performed agarose gel electrophoresis in 3 rounds.
Round 1: Tested plasmid 1.1,1.2,1.3,1.4
Round 2: Tested plasmid 1.3,1.4,1.5,1.6,1.7,1.8,1.9,1.10
Round 3: Tested plasmid 1.6,1.7,1.8,1.9,1.11,3.1
Figure 1: Profile of round1 (DNA mass 600 ng)
Figure 2.1: Profile of round2 (DNA mass 600 ng)
Figure 2.2: Profile of round2 (DNA mass 600 ng)
Figure 3.1: Profile of round3 (DNA mass 600 ng)
Figure 3.2: Profile of round3 (DNA mass 600 ng)
This week we transformed plasmid 5.1 into DH5α
We extracted plasmid 5.1 for the first time.
This week we transformed plasmid 5.2,5.3,5.4 into DH5α
We extracted plasmind 1.10,1.11 for a third time.
The concentration of plasmid maxiprep are as follows:
We digested the plasmids and performed agarose gel electrophoresis twice.
Round 1: Tested plasmid 5.1,3.1
Round 2: Tested plasmid1.10,1.11,5.1
Round 3: Tested plasmid 1.6,1.7,1.10
Figure 1: Profile of round1 (DNA mass 600 ng)
Figure 2: Profile of round2 (DNA mass 600 ng)
Figure 3: Profile of round3 (DNA mass 600 ng)
The concentration of plasmid maxiprep are as follows:
We digest the plasmids at room temperature overnight according to the follow system:
Figure 1: Profile of digestion (DNA mass 600 ng)
We passaged HEK293T cells for future transfection experiments.
We seed HEK293T cells in two 24-well plates for subsequent transfection.
We transfected system1 and system2 to HEK293T cells and performed florescence imaging of EGFP and mCherry in transfected cells to explore the effectiveness of the RADAR system.
Table 1. List of transfection system
Table 2. List of transfection system
As anticipated, EGFP expression was successfully triggered by their corresponding Triggers across all systems and treatment groups. This outcome not only validates the functionality of our RADAR system but also confirms the inducing effect of doxycycline. However, we observed that the untreated control groups (without doxycycline) showed the strongest signal, potentially due to cytotoxic effects caused by DMSO – the solvent used for doxycycline preparation – as illustrated below.
Figure 1: Images of HEK293T 48h after transfection.
We seed HEK293T cells in two 24-well plates for subsequent transfection.
We transfected AND system to HEK293T cells and performed florescence imaging of EGFP and mCherry in transfected cells to explore the effectiveness of the RADAR system.
Round 1: p1.1, p1.6, p1.7, p1.8, p1.9
Round 2: p1.1, p1.6, p1.7, p1.10, p1.11
Table 1. List of transfection system
Table 2. List of transfection system
In Round 1, We found that when both Triggers were co-transfected, the induced EGFP expression was not significant. Combined with the results of Event 3, we speculate that this may be due to the TetO sequence still exerting a certain inhibitory effect on Trigger expression. Therefore, we decided to replace the plasmids with p1.10 and p1.11 and repeat the experiment.
In Round 2, We observed that the EGFP expression induced by co-transfection with both Triggers was not significant. To rule out operational factors, we have decided to repeat the experiment.
We passaged HEK293T cells for future transfection experiments.
We seed HEK293T cells in one 24-well plate for subsequent transfection.
We stransfect the two systems as follows to verify the efficiency of RADAR system.
Table 1. List of transfection system
Table 2. List of transfection system
For the transfection of Sensor 1-Gluc and other system, We observed that the luminescence intensity of the culture supernatant from cells co-transfected with Sensor 1-Gluc and Trigger 1 was significantly higher than that from cells transfected with Sensor 1 alone or with Sensor 1 and Trigger 2. This demonstrates that Gluc can function effectively as an output gene in the RADAR system.
Figure 1: Luminescence of HEK293T cells transfected with Sensor 1-Gluc and other plasmids.
For the transfection of AND system, we found that co-transfection with both Trigger 1 and Trigger 2 can significantly induced EGFP expression, whereas individual Trigger transfection or the no-Trigger control group showed barely detectable EGFP. This result demonstrates that the system can simultaneously and specifically detect both Triggers.
Figure 2:Images of HEK293T 48h after transfection.
We seed HEK293T cells in one 24-well plate for subsequent transfection.
We passaged HEK293T cells for future transfection experiments.
We passaged HEK293T cells for future transfection experiments.
We seed HEK293T cells in one 24-well plate for subsequent transfection.
We transfected plasmids to the cells to verify the efficiency of RADAR system
Table 1. List of transfection system
Table 2. List of transfection system
Table 3. List of transfection system
The transfection results for Sensor 1-Gluc and its related plasmids were consistent with previous findings. Notably, the supernatant from cells transfected with the Sensor 1(PC)-Gluc plasmid (p5.2) exhibited exceptionally high Gluc expression, confirming the functionality of both the RADAR system and the positive control. Furthermore, the RADAR AND-gate sensor with Gluc as the output performed effectively, demonstrating high luminescence levels only upon co-transfection with both Trigger 1 and Trigger 2.
Figure 1:Luminescence of conditioned medium of HEK293T cells after transfection, Sensor 1+2-Gluc is a RADAR sensor with Gluc as the output, created by connecting Sensor 1 and Sensor 2 in tandem.
We also collected culture supernatants at various time points from cells co-transfected with the AND Sensor-Gluc, Trigger 1, Trigger 2, and ADAR to investigate the kinetics of the RADAR system, the results are as follows:
Figure 2: Luminescence of conditioned medium from transfected HEK293T cells that were collected at indicated times.
We passage the human preadipocytes to get more cells for experiments.
We change the medium of human preadipocytes to keep the viability.
We seed the cells into well plates for further adipogenic differentiation.
To obtain adipocytes for experiments, we subjected the preadipocytes to adipogenic differentiation.
We seed the cells into well plates for further adipogenic differentiation.
We change the medium of human preadipocytes to keep the viability.
To obtain adipocytes for experiments, we subjected the preadipocytes to adipogenic differentiation.
We seed the cells into well plates for further adipogenic differentiation.
We revival the new human preadipocytes got from the company.
To obtain adipocytes for experiments, we subjected the preadipocytes to adipogenic differentiation.
We seed the cells into well plates for further adipogenic differentiation.
We passage the human preadipocytes to get more cells for experiments.
To obtain adipocytes for experiments, we subjected the preadipocytes to adipogenic differentiation.
We seed the cells into well plates for further adipogenic differentiation.
To obtain adipocytes for experiments, we subjected the preadipocytes to adipogenic differentiation.
We assessed the extent of adipocyte differentiation by Oil Red O staining.
Figure 1: Differentiated Adipocytes
We used rAAV to deliver Sensor 1-Gluc, Trigger 1, and ADAR to validate the functionality of both the RADAR system and rAAV.
Round 1
Through observing expression of mcherry using the fluorescence microscope, we found that using 15μL can already achieved satisfactory infection efficiency, we decided to use 15 μL for all subsequent infections.
Round 2
Three days post-infection, the cell culture supernatant was collected and mixed with substrate for chemiluminescence detection. The results showed that co-infection with Trigger 1 induced a significant increase in luminescence from Sensor 1-Gluc, demonstrating that rAAV can effectively deliver the RADAR system and that the RADAR system functions robustly within adipocytes.
Figure 1:Luminescence of the conditioned medium from adipocytes infected by rAAVs carrying Sensor 1 and Trigger 1
We treated the cells with cytokines to validate the upregulation of the target gene in adipocytes.
We quantified the expression of specific genes by qPCR.
Treatment with either PAI-1 or CXCL8 specifically upregulated their respective target genes (PLOD2 and LIF), with CXCL8 inducing a more pronounced upregulation than CXCL3. Furthermore, co-treatment with PAI-1 and CXCL8 simultaneously enhanced the expression of both genes.
Figure 1: Expression of PLOD2 and LIF in adipocytes treated with PAI-1 and CXCL8.
We seed the cells into well plates for further adipogenic differentiation.
We stained undifferentiated adipocytes to supplement the control groups.
Figure 1: Undifferentiated human preadipocytes,with or without oil red o staining.
We revived the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 to obtain conditioned medium.
We used rAAV to deliver the PLOD2 sensor,LIF sensor and ADAR to validate the functionality of our RADAR system.
We treated the cells with cytokines to up-regulate the target gene in adipocytes.
Figure 1:Luminescence of conditioned medium supernatant from infected adipocytes, with or without cytokine treatment.
We seed the MDA-MB-231 cells into 6-well plate to collect the conditioned medium for further experiments.
We used rAAV to deliver the PLOD2-LIF sensor and ADAR to validate the functionality of our RADAR system.
We treated the cells with cytokines to up-regulate the target gene in adipocytes.
We observed a significant increase in luminescence intensity in the post-infection culture supernatant following co-treatment with both cytokines, an effect not elicited by individual cytokine treatment or in the absence of cytokines. This confirms that our designed PLOD2-LIF sensor exhibits excellent detection performance and specificity.
Figure 1: Luminescence of conditioned medium supernatant from adipocytes infected by rAAV carry PLOD2-LIF sensor, with or without cytokines treatment.
We treated the cells with conditioned medium of MDA-MB-231 to detect the efficiency for our engineered adipocytes to detect breast cancer.
We observed that MDA-MB-231 conditioned medium (CM) induced a significant increase in luminescence intensity, indicating that our detection system functions effectively.
Figure 1: Luminescence of conditioned medium supernatant from adipocytes infected by rAAV carrying PLOD2-LIF sensor and ADAR, with or without CM treatment.
We assessed the impact of rAAV infection on cell viability using the CCK-8 assay.
We observed no significant change in the viability of adipocytes following infection with rAAV carrying the PLOD2-LIF sensor and ADAR.
Figure 1:The viability of infected and uninfected adipocytes revealed by CCK-8 assay.
After the team recruitment, our model group was set up by three outstanding undergraduate students from Jilin University, Hanqiu Yang from the School of Computer Science and Technology, Wenyuan Deng from the School of Mathematics and Chenguang Shi from the Third Bethune Clinical Medical College.
During the group meeting, members of the Model group met offline for the first time and made their choices regarding the research directions during the brainstorming phase: Hanqiu Yang chose the research direction of large sequence models, while Wenyuan Deng opted for the direction of biomolecular dynamics simulation,and Chenguang Shi chose bioinformatics analysis as his research direction. Moving forward, the members will engage in learning and replication in their respective fields of interest, gradually accumulating experience.
At the first meeting of the Model group, Hanqiu Yang reported on his learning progress, which covered knowledge such as fully connected neural networks in deep learning. He also researched the application direction of large sequence models in synthetic biology and proposed the application of AI in the Wiki group. Wenyuan Deng shared her learning experience with MATLAB and simbiology, analyzed and replicated the case of the 2023 AFCM - Egypt Best Model nominee, pointed out the advantages and disadvantages of the case as well as the direction for improvement, and meanwhile, stated the existing problems and the subsequent plan. Chenguang Shi shared the application of programming software such as R and Python in bioinformatics analysis.Consultant Renxiu Song and the former leader of the Model group, Haoyang Liu, shared their Model competition experience and put forward corresponding suggestions for improvement.
During the initial phase of the Model group's activities, members established foundational research directions through brainstorming and collaborative discussions. Domains of large sequence models and biomolecular dynamics simulation through tools like MATLAB and SimBiology are studied by team members. Our work also includes the case studies of best model nominees such as the 2023 AFCM - Egypt and 2021 Vilnius. Subsequently, we learnt the mathematical principles of Transformer architecture, reproducing self-attention mechanisms and explored applications of large-scale models in gene sequence analysis. Furthermore, we also advanced our proficiency in non-compartmental analysis and parameter fitting using SimBiology's Model Analyzer.
This week, we officially began the search work in the database with the EXP team. We systematically learned the use of databases such as GEO, TCGA, GTEx, and ArrayExpress. After comprehensive consideration, we ultimately chose GEO, TCGA, and GTEx as our available databases.
After analysis, we found that the GEO database data has issues such as small scale, which is difficult to meet our work needs. Therefore, we ultimately decided to search for the required data from TCGA and GTEx.
Through literature research, we have identified several genes which exhibit abnormal expression in adipocytes after being affected by breast cancer cells.
Utilizing an MLP algorithm incorporating the Attention mechanism-better suited to capture complex non-linear relationships in high-dimensional sparse data-we performed feature extraction on the data matrix. Based on data from TCGA and GTEx, we evaluated the predictive performance of different gene combinations and ultimately determined the gene combination for subsequent monitoring.
This week with the HP team, we developed a Synthetic Biology Ethical Risk Assessment Model. Current research remains qualitative (philosophy/social science) with no standardized risk grading or mathematical models. Proposed solutions (ethical matrices, AI evaluation, structural equation modeling) all face challenges like subjective quantification. Next week focuses on feasibility analysis and preliminary modeling.
This week, we made further progress on our synthetic biology ethical risk assessment mode. we adopted a hybrid approach combining mathematical modeling with Likert-scale questionnaires covering biosafety and social equity dimensions. Our next steps involve applying structural equation modeling to analyze latent variables through path coefficients for quantitative validation.
we finalized the adoption of a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) + Bayesian Network hybrid approach. After deepening our theoretical understanding of SEM, we established a dual-track strategy combining mathematical modeling with questionnaire surveys. This involves: 1) collecting data through customized questionnaires to analyze key influencing factors and their path coefficients, 2) developing quantitative assessment models, and 3) exploring Bayesian Network-SEM integration with proposed linear/Sigmoid mapping solutions for weight-to-probability conversion. Collaborating with the HP team, we refined ethical assessment dimensions in the questionnaire.
In our seventh team meeting, we finalized a comprehensive modeling framework integrating multi-dimensional variables through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Bayesian Networks to evaluate both the potential impact and occurrence probability of ethical risks. Building on established evaluation dimensions and indicators from literature, we've successfully designed and distributed questionnaires, collecting 322 diverse samples. For SEM implementation, we've completed data simulation tests yielding path diagrams and reliability indices, while for Bayesian Networks, we've established fundamental principles including weight-to-probability conversion methods and risk assessment procedures using Bayesian inference.
In the ethical risk assessment model, we transitioned from structural equation modeling to Bayesian networks. This involved converting path coefficients to form a topological structure, discretizing continuous variables, and applying softmax normalization to build a conditional probability table. We also began learning to use Netica software.
We have established an ethical risk assessment system and developed a generalized synthetic biology risk assessment model based on structural equation and Bayesian network, achieving risk quantification.
We designed a universal questionnaire within our ethical risk assessment model and used two case studies-"synthetic reconstruction of the smallpox virus" and "producing the antimalarial drug artemisinin(青蒿素) with synthetic yeast"-to test the model's validity. Through this process, we successfully generated the corresponding Bayesian network diagrams, which verified that the model is sound and reasonable.
We further refined the overall framework of the ethical risk assessment model, creating its flowchart and drafting the relevant documentation. Concurrently, we conducted an ethical risk assessment on our own project using the model, ultimately concluding that our project is categorized as low-risk.
This week, we finalized the name "BEAM" (Bio-ethical Assessment Model) for our ethical assessment model, intending to illuminate ethical evaluation in synthetic biology. Subsequently, we revised and discussed the documentation outline.
Upon obtaining the key gene combination, we designed multiple sensor-RNA sequences for plasmid construction based on their expression profiles. We employed the iPKnot++ algorithm, capable of predicting long-chain RNA structures including pseudoknots, to simulate RNA secondary structures. We quantitatively evaluated the functionality of the RNA sequences using two metrics: the unpaired probability in the sensor region and the exposed length near editing sites. Ultimately, we determined the sensor-RNA sequences for plasmid construction.
This week, we established the preliminary dynamic model of the RADAR system based on the previously designed RNA sensors. By abstracting the RNA editing and downstream reporter expression process, we obtained the overall reaction framework and formulated an equation system for subsequent validation.
We noticed that the data scale of the GEO database was insufficient for our needs. After screening, we identified TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) and GTEx (Genotype-Tissue Expression) as the primary data sources.
This week, we focused on the dynamic process of GLUC in the glomerular filtration barrier. By modeling the structural features and diffusion mechanisms, we demonstrated how GLUC molecules pass through the filtration barrier and obtained the concentration change trends in body fluids.
This week,We have not only validated the RADAR response pattern at the cellular level but also demonstrated the feasibility of GLUC as a detectable output signal. Our model is named DISCERN, signifying "Dynamic Integration of Simulation for Cancer Evaluation and Recognition," while also embodying the meaning of "discernment and recognition."
This week, we focused on refining the core algorithm logic, completing the code implementation for data processing and modeling, and conducting preliminary performance tests.
We established the frontend framework and designed the overall webpage structure, achieving seamless integration with the backend. Page interaction optimization and visual design adjustments were implemented to ensure clarity, aesthetics, and functionality. Initial functional testing was initiated to identify and resolve issues in frontend-backend interaction.
This week, we systematically addressed bugs identified during testing and optimized the code to enhance overall stability and efficiency. Concurrently, we drafted the accompanying Software webpage documentation.
We conducted a final round of testing and functionality verification. Files were organized, documentation formats were finalized, and the submission version was prepared.
After the recruitment process, 7 undergraduates from Jilin University have joined the HP & Education group of the 2025 CJUH-JLU-China iGEM team.
We successfully transformed and printed the 2024 original team-created picture book "Invisible Bacteria" into a Braille version through the Comet-Light Hanbilingual Translation Platform. This provided unique biological science popularization educational content for visually impaired children.
The "Explore the code of life and program a journey into synthetic biology" synthetic biology fun camp was held in the Song Zhiping Gymnasium of Jilin University, attracting teenagers curious about life sciences to participate.
As the winter vacation arrives, our team members carried out several lectures back at their high schools which shaped and cultivated them, with the aim of inspiring curiosity and enthusiasm in synthetic biology and scientific research among the young talents.
We explored public health needs in several communities in Changchun, including Qunying, Huxi, and Nanling Baiyi. Surveys and interviews revealed strong concern about breast cancer, especially around early detection and current diagnostic limitations. Patients expressed the need for better awareness, less invasive screening, and more accessible technologies. These insights guided our project toward developing improved, patient-centered breast cancer diagnostics.
After learning about breast cancer challenges in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, we visited the local CDC for more information. They shared issues like limited medical resources and gaps in disease monitoring. Although screening programs exist, effective follow-up for breast cancer remains a major challenge. Current methods may miss early recurrence or cause unnecessary anxiety. This inspired us to develop a technology for long-term in vivo monitoring with easy at-home readouts, aiming to make follow-up care more accessible and reliable.
To find suitable technologies for our in vivo monitoring with in vitro readout system, we attended the MedTech Summit 2025. The conference focused on medical innovation and patient-centered care. We discovered that combining in vitro diagnostics (IVD) with implantable sensors and external readers offers a faster, easier, and less invasive way to monitor breast cancer. One key idea we learned was "real-time early warning", which uses continuous monitoring and smart analysis to catch problems early. This inspired us to include real-time features in our design to improve early detection, reduce patient burden, and support long-term follow-up care.
We interviewed Dr. Guang Sun from Jilin University to get clinical feedback on our project. He explained that breast cancer detection in China has improved with imaging, but many areas still have limited screening and low patient compliance. He pointed out two main problems: the high chance of cancer returning, especially in aggressive types, and weak long-term follow-up systems. Dr. Sun agreed that the focus is moving from early detection to preventing recurrence and improving long-term care, which supports our project’s goals.
Noticing the rise in breast reconstruction surgeries, we explored integrating a diagnostic system with reconstruction to aid both monitoring and recovery. After consulting Dr. Wan Wang from Jilin University, we learned that autologous fat grafting is widely used and feasible for implanting engineered adipocytes during surgery. Although breast-conserving surgery rates are relatively low and immediate reconstruction even lower, this approach offers a promising integrated diagnosis and treatment strategy for patients undergoing reconstruction.
To expand our project’s impact beyond breast cancer patients undergoing reconstruction, we explored the use of autologous fat grafting in cosmetic breast augmentation. Guided by insights from plastic surgeon Dr. Lianbo Zhang, we learned that fat grafting is both clinically safe and increasingly popular due to its natural results and minimal invasiveness. Based on this, we decided to broaden our target group to include women choosing cosmetic augmentation, using fat grafting as a platform to extend the application of our diagnostic technology.
While evaluating output options for our system, we compared melanin and Gaussia luciferase (Gluc) in terms of user convenience and psychological impact. Through an interview with Dr. Bin Yang, we learned that visible melanin marks could negatively affect body image, while Gluc offers a non-invasive and technically feasible luminescent readout. Based on this, we chose Gluc as our reporter gene and confirmed its sensitivity and practicality through lab tests. Its ability to produce detectable signals in body fluids like urine supports its potential for real-world, patient-friendly monitoring.
At the Huxi Community, Changchun, we held a discussion-focused outreach, bringing together thirteen community members to explore the applications of synthetic biology and ethical considerations.
Our team discussed how to improve the layout and content presentation of our Education wiki. Ideas include embedding scroll-triggered animations, hand-drawn comics, real-time online graffiti walls and many more.
We began by exploring public databases to identify genes highly expressed in cancer-associated adipocytes (CAAs), but the available datasets were limited in size and lacked strong statistical power. After consulting Professor Walter Bodmer, we learned that observed gene expression might reflect general inflammation rather than breast cancer specificity.
To select suitable cancer biomarkers, we consulted DIRUI Industrial Co., Ltd., a company experienced in tumor marker detection. Their experts emphasized the importance of accuracy and shared strategies to optimize screening and reduce false positives. Inspired by this, we adopted a combined biomarker approach and identified four candidate gene pairs from literature.
We consulted Dr. Wu, an expert in molecular biology, to assess the feasibility of using adenovirus for gene delivery in adipocytes. She confirmed adenovirus's high infection efficiency but noted its short-lived expression, potential immune response, and reduced effectiveness in adipose tissue. Based on her advice, we switched to adeno-associated virus (AAV) for its lower immunogenicity and better stability in non-dividing cells.
We published the first WeChat official account post displaying the 2025 CJUH-JLU-China team recruitment activity.
We published the second WeChat official account post titled "Synthesizing the Future: Voice of Innovators", kicking off our iGEM promotion series.
We carried out the "Super Little Inventor" educational activity in Jilin University Affiliated Primary School, aiming to inspire children's interest in exploring the world of biology by designing "super little creatures".
We published the third WeChat official account post, with the theme of "the Innovative Blueprint of Synthetic Biology and Cell Factories".
To spark deeper reflection on syn-bio ethics and innovation, we hosted a debate centered the ethical implications of IP openness in synthetic biology, and invited the debate team from JLU School of Business and Management as our counterpart.
To overcome the challenge of balancing subjective judgment and objective criteria in constructing our ethical risk assessment framework, we sought guidance from Prof. Dong, a specialist in philosophy and sociology. He emphasized the importance of scenario-specific ethical assessments, as ethical concerns vary by application. Following his advice, we refined our framework. This made our framework more targeted, practical, and adaptable.
While developing our ethical risk assessment framework, we initially built a multi-dimensional system and used Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to determine the weight of each factor. However, we faced challenges in quantitatively assessing uncertain risks based on these dimensions. To address this, we consulted Prof. Wenbin Chen, who advised us to explore probabilistic relationships among factors. Following his guidance, we introduced a Bayesian network, which enabled dynamic risk inference and improved adaptability. .
After analyzing ethical issues across different scenarios, we recognized that expert perspectives alone were insufficient for a comprehensive evaluation. To incorporate public perception, we designed a detailed questionnaire covering key ethical dimensions and attitudes toward emerging synthetic biology applications. The collected data became the foundation for our model, offering both insights into public concerns and quantitative input for model training. This step helped bridge expert analysis with societal expectations, ensuring our framework remains grounded and socially relevant.
We attended the China-Korea Plastic Surgery Academic Salon to gain insight into the needs and business models of plastic surgery departments in public hospitals. Dr. Lianbo Zhang’s presentation provided key insights into clinical evaluation standards in public hospitals, emphasizing practicality, evidence, and protocol alignment. This guided us to pursue research collaborations and clinical validation. Additionally, Dr. Haiyan Qin’s talk helped us identify a technical pathway to integrate our project into medical aesthetics.
To better understand the needs of private medical aesthetics clinics, we interviewed Dr. Zhao, who emphasized that fat cell survival is crucial for successful breast augmentation and patient satisfaction. She pointed out the industry's challenge of unstable fat cell survival, which could hinder the adoption of ABCS. In response, we identified improving the survival rate of engineered fat cells during transplantation as a key research focus, aiming to optimize methods tailored.
We held the "Fuzzy Sticks" education activity at Changchun Jilong Middle School. Through creative hands-on practice, we led students into the fascinating world of synthetic biology and helped them experience the unique charm of science and innovation.
We established the REDnote account and published our first post, briefly introducing our team and our past highlight moments.
We released the fourth WeChat official account post, displaying our visit to the Changchun International Medical and Health Industry Expo and our exploration of the public's understanding on medical and health.
We conducted the Cell Kingdom on Kites education activity at Jilin University Affiliated Primary School. We introduced the kids to a variety of cells and organelles, explained how they work, and let them illustrate their favorite cells on kites, aiming to guide children in exploring microscopic world mysteries and feel the unique charm of the collision between science and art.
We released the fifth WeChat official account post, centering the past and the present of synthetic biology.
Through the platform of Jilin University, we reached out to students at multiple universities nationwide through open letters, sharing our team's iGEM journey last year to spark their interest in iGEM and synthetic biology.
We released the second post on REDnote, introducing the cycle and award settings of the iGEM competition.
We released the sixth WeChat official account post and the third post on REDnote, introducing the whole process of the Apricot Blossom Festival (an annual tradition here in JLU) in detail.
On the occasion of the 10th apricot blossom festival of Jilin University, we held the "Spring in Pinwheels, Nature in Slides" activity at the Nanling campus, Jilin University. Faculty and students actively participated, experiencing the integration of science and spring’s beauty.
We developed the educational game "Cell Chess" and engaged international students in the chess play, enabling them to discover biology’s wonders.
We released the seventh WeChat official account post, reviewing the memorable moments in the Apricot Blossom Festival, from DIY windmills to a magical world under a microscope, we have achieved a vivid interaction between spring and science.
We recorded a video explaining the first chapter of the learning material, focusing on the concept of iGEM, its development history, and the award settings.
We released the fourth post on REDnote, presenting the wonderful moments of the Apricot Blossom Festival event.
As the ABCS project approached commercialization, we sought to bridge the gap between research, clinical application, and market readiness by attending a symposium on clinical research and new drug development. There, we developed a multi-dimensional strategy involving small-scale clinical trials to improve system stability, a tiered market approach targeting both hospitals and consumer channels, and plans to co-develop supporting equipment.
We released the eighth WeChat official account post, centering the introduction to some of the iGEM villages.
We conducted a science popularization activity for students of Dehui Experimental Primary School, introducing human cells, cell organelles, and Escherichia coli. Then, we designed the Snakes and Ladders Q&A activity, combining education with entertainment to arouse students' curiosity about exploring biological mysteries.
We released the ninth WeChat official account post, introducing the whole process of the "Yinyin Journey" grassland music festival in detail and the gameplay of snakes and ladders.
We participated in the first session of the SUSTech-SynBio Community Exchange as the invited guest, sharing this year's project design and the Human Practices experience in 2024.
We released the fifth post on REDnote, documenting the wonderful moments of the Apricot Blossom Festival (an annual tradition here in JLU) in the form of a video.
On the occasion of the "Yinyin Journey" grassland music festival at Jilin University, we held a variety of scientific activities at the Xinmin Campus of Jilin University such as SynBio&Smile smiley face board to immerse participants in a joyful atmosphere of science and music fusion.
We participated in the second Northeast Regional iGEMer Exchange Conference, sharing this year's projects and listening to the insightful views of other teams on experimental techniques, project design and other aspects.
We guided high school students from Dehui Experimental High School to briefly understand what synthetic biology is and its fascinating inventions. Using common daily-life phenomenon as a gateway to introduce synthetic biology, we encouraged students to unleash their imagination and create simple synthetic biology designs.
Using daily-life phenomenon as the starting point, we introduced bacteria to children at Dehui Special Education School. We guided them to collaboratively create bacteria models with plasticine. Despite many facing self-care challenges, they cooperated warmly, sharing genuine smiles. These children, like angels with folded wings, may find in biology an interest that fuels their journey ahead, inspiring them to persevere.
We exchanged with Fudan University iGEM team, reaching a consensus on cooperation.
We released the sixth post on REDnote, reviewing the gains from the 2nd Northeast Regional iGEMer Exchange Conference.
We developed the "Plasmid Construction, Campus Orienteering" to promote synthetic biology by orienteering while collecting plasmid fragments at different sites and eventually completing a plasmid at the finishing line.
We released the tenth WeChat official account post as a supplement to the eighth post, centering the introduction to the rest iGEM villages.
We released the eleventh WeChat official account post, reviewing the moments at the second Northeast Regional iGEMer Exchange Conference.
We released the seventh post on REDnote, reviewing our highlights at the grassland music festival.
We recorded a video explaining the second chapter of the learning material, focusing on the award criteria of the iGEM competition and conducted case interpretation on some special awards.
We conducted a survey to assess how different stakeholders perceive the ethical risks and benefits of the ABCS system. This targeted survey aligned directly with BEAM indicators, transforming the model from a theoretical framework into a practical assessment tool. The results revealed differing concerns among experts, patients, and the public, allowing us to adjust risk weights and develop the ABCS Ethical Risk Assessment.
We recognized the importance of breast cancer patients’ firsthand insights but faced challenges related to handling sensitive personal data during interviews. To ensure ethical compliance and protect patient rights, we consulted Wei Jun from the Ethics Committee. He advised us to standardize interview procedures and improve the informed consent form for clarity and transparency. Following his guidance, we revised the consent document to clearly explain the interview purpose, data use, and privacy protections in patient-friendly language.
We encountered challenges in respecting patients’ subjectivity and fostering equal dialogue. To address this, we consulted Prof. Yujiao Jia, an expert in philosophy and social sciences. She recommended using a narrative cognitive theory-based life history interview method, involving multi-layered questioning to capture patients’ experiences fully. Prof. Jia also emphasized the importance of suspending the interviewer’s authority, promoting humility, and engaging in open, jargon-free conversations to truly honor patients as narrators of their own lives.
As we prepared for in-depth interviews with breast cancer patients, we recognized that technical readiness alone was insufficient due to the patients’ complex psychological states. To address this, we consulted experienced breast surgeon Dr. Zhou who shared insights on patients’ common psychological challenges-identity confusion, anxiety about recurrence, and social withdrawal-and offered communication strategies emphasizing empathy and active listening.
Before actually interviewing patients, we were still concerned that our approach might not be mature enough and could unintentionally cause secondary emotional harm. So, we decided to use Doubao AI to help us assess whether our interview style met the requirements suggested by the experts we consulted.
We participated in the second iBridge exchange meeting, presenting this year's projects and sharing the competition experiences with other teams.
We have completed the virtual experiment of competent cells preparation, and completed the interface layout design of the virtual laboratory.
We released the eighth post on REDnote, describing the detailed work content of each group in our iGEM team.
We completed the virtual experiment of bacterial transformation, and carried out the function test and performance optimization.
We released the twelfth WeChat official account post, reviewing our highlights at the grassland music festival.
We recorded this video to explain the third chapter of the learning material, focusing on the concept and key points of synthetic biology.
We released the thirteenth WeChat official account post, centering the CRISPR gene editing technology.
We have completed the process decomposition, animation production and algorithm implementation of DNA digestion and ligation experiment, aiming to establish a virtual experiment platform and integrate popular science game elements.
We faced challenges in defining our marketing strategy. To address this, we consulted Prof. Ren Ling from the School of Business, who advised us to adopt a phased approach-starting with ToB technical services before expanding to ToC products. Guided by her insights, we formulated a market segmentation strategy.
We realized the challenge lay in effectively communicating our technical value to investors. To address this, we interviewed Mr. Xue, an expert in biotech investment and entrepreneurship. He emphasized the importance of storytelling-translating technical strengths into accessible language, linking them to market needs, and showcasing both commercial potential and social impact. Based on his advice, we developed the "ABCS Brand Strategy House" to clearly articulate our value proposition and enhance investor appeal.
To better understand how to build a talent system aligned with commercialization goals, we consulted executives from Wondfo, a company experienced in medical innovation. They emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary talent and shared strategies like cross-functional collaboration, departmental rotation, and integrated workshops. Inspired by their insights, we created a tailored talent development plan for the ABCS project.
To evaluate Gluc’s renal clearance efficiency, we planned to simulate its transport across the glomerular filtration barrier but faced two data gaps: no literature on Gluc’s filtration rate and no basement membrane pore size distribution data, so we consulted Prof. Haoran Yu. He suggested using the normal distribution of stochastic biological structures and the barrier’s known physical parameters to reasonably assume the basement membrane’s pore size, and further recommended coupling macro renal clearance data with micro structural modeling.
Via literature review, we noted GFB is traditionally 3-layered. After confirming the first two layers’ parameters, we faced unresolvable discrepancies in the third layer’s reported parameters. We then interviewed Senior Researcher Rui Yin, who validated our exploration and explained the discrepancy: conventional “third layer” is often ambiguously defined, but should be split into two sub-layers. He advised investigating their specific parameters separately.
We participated in the SUSTech-SynBio Community Exchange Meeting as special guests, sharing the experience of achieving last year’s excellent results.
We released the 14th WeChat official account post, centering on the technology of TALENs.
We designed courses 1-5 of our teaching material Teachers’ Reference Book: All-ages Synthetic Biology for teachers, which is divided into three levels: primary school, junior high school and senior high school. The content revolves around the activities: Fuzzy Sticks, Cell Kingdom on Kites, Auction of Genetic Components, Super Little Inventor, and Life Code Designer.
We recorded chapter 4-6 of the learning material Synthetic Biology in Seven Days-Advanced Edition, respectively focusing on experimental technology, including both basic and specific; design modeling, including foundations, theory, and practices; ethical safety, including its position,issues and guiding principles.
We established the framework of Education page, classified all educational activities and gained an overall concept.
We held the "Syn-bio Snakes & Ladders and Live Lab Tour" activity in Shanxi Dongjian'an School for the third time,allowing students to easily understand synthetic biology and glimpse authentic experimental settings and expand vision beyond the classroom.
We held the "Auction of Genetic Components" activity in Shandong Licun Middle School, using analogy to explain synthetic biology and genetic engineering principles. Also,this activity linked three nearby schools, bridging cutting-edge technology and rural education.
We completed the fourth virtual lab experiment-PCR, introducing recombinant plasmids into competent cells using heat-shock method.
We released the fifteenth WeChat official account post, paying tribute to the contributions made by female scientist Ning Yan to the world.
We completed the fifth virtual lab experiment-cell thawing, offering experience of the complete process of thawing frozen cells.
We recorded chapters 1-3 of the Synthetic Biology in Seven Days-Intermediate Edition, focusing on the concept of iGEM, the award criteria and case interpretation, and basic theories. The difference from the advanced version is that we adjusted the knowledge content and presentation form.
We completed the 6th virtual lab experiment-Cell passage, introducing the procedure of cell passaging.
Recognizing the legal risks across the ABCS project’s R&D, clinical, and commercialization stages, we consulted Lawyer Bai for professional guidance. She outlined key legal considerations, including biosecurity and gene technology compliance in R&D, clinical trial approvals and device regulations in application, and IP protection and advertising laws in commercialization. Following her advice, we began strengthening our legal risk management system to ensure compliance.
To explore how to transform ABCS into a real-world startup, we interviewed Prof. Zhang, an expert in innovation and entrepreneurship. He emphasized shifting from technical to entrepreneurial thinking and introduced the "entrepreneurial capability matrix", highlighting essential areas like market awareness, fundraising, and strategic planning.
We first submitted an application to the ethics committee of China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University. The ethics committee conducted a strict review of the application, and we finally successfully obtained the hospital's ethical review approval, laying a legal and compliant foundation for the offline interview activities.
To help our team familiarize with entrepreneurial processes and boost decision-making capabilities via collaboration, we developed our own "iGEM Entrepreneurship Practice Simulation", which will let team members grasp the full entrepreneurial process and enhance capabilities through comprehensive sandbox-based simulations.
We designed course 6-7 of Teachers’ Reference Book: All-ages Synthetic Biology for teachers. The content revolves respectively around the "Bacterial Adventure-Our Friends "Activity and popularization for autistic children.
We participated in the iBridge Exchange Meeting, sharing the experience of achieving excellent results last year and introducing our 2025 project.
We recorded videos explaining the 4-6 chapters of the Synthetic Biology in Seven Days-Intermediate Edition, respectively focusing on the design and analysis methods of synthetic biology, explaining practical information; the importance of modeling in the iGEM competition and its biological foundations; ethical challenges and principles.
We went to Beijing to attend CCiC, conducting presentations and displaying our project posters, and reached a consensus for cooperation through continuous communication with other teams. During this period, we also attended the functional nucleic acid seminar organized by PekingHSC iGEM team, and ultimately we reached a consensus to jointly produce a functional nucleic acid white paper.
We released the first podcast series, discussing the fermentation function of yeast and the factors that influence its functionality.
We designed the seventh virtual lab experiment-Cell freezing, introducing the basics principles and techniques of long-term cell storage.
We met online with 3 international iGEM teams-iGEM Lund, iGEM NYUAD, and iGEM McGill-during this period to exchange our projects and promote our education collaboration.
We released the sixteenth WeChat official account post, recording the entire process we had at CCiC and sharing our gains.
We released the eleventh post on REDnote, documenting the entire process over our three days at CCiC.
We released the second podcast, which tells the story of beneficial bacteria cleaning the sewers, demonstrating that bacteria can also be helpful.
We recorded a video explaining the first chapter of the Synthetic Biology in Seven Days-Basic Edition, introducing the core concepts of the iGEM competition by using a friendly opening, strong interactivity, and a combination of rich visuals and explanations to enhance perception.
We released the twelfth post on REDnote, documenting the work we did at CCiC, including team communication, cooperation achievements, and so on.
We released the third podcast, telling a story of lactic acid bacteria and other bacteria producing lactic acid to fend off harmful bacteria.
We released the fourth podcast, telling the story of photosynthetic bacteria converting weak light into energy and releasing oxygen through photosynthesis.
We recorded chapter 3-6 videos of the Synthetic Biology in Seven Days-Basic Edition, focusing on these topics:
We released the thirteenth post on REDnote and created a new series-knowledge cards, revolving which direction the public is most interested in understanding synthetic biology, listing 5 options, and explaining the one with the highest votes in 3 days.
We released the fifth podcast series, telling the story that acteriophages recognize and eliminate viruses.
We released the sixth podcast, telling the story of how root nodule bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into nutrients that can be absorbed by bean sprouts.
We released the fourteenth post on REDnote and created a new series--knowledge cards,revolving which application the public is most interested in understanding synthetic biology, listing 5 options, and explaining the one with the highest votes after 3 days.
Our team built an entrepreneurship ability matrix by using our original "iGEM Entrepreneurship Practice Simulation" handbook, preparing for future responses to actual entrepreneurship challenges.
We organized the feedback collected from patient interviews into a word cloud, ranking terms by frequency to make patients’ needs, concerns, and emotions more visually accessible. This helped us quickly identify recurring themes and gain a clearer, more intuitive understanding of what patients value most.
The ABCS project needs to extensively collect the preferences of breast cancer patients for three testing methods (test kits, test strips, and automatic testing toilets) to ensure that the product form meets the actual needs of patients. Since offline interviews had limited reach, we expanded the research online through the platforms "Mijian" and "Dances with Cancer", ensuring that patient voices were included in shaping our project.
The business plan helps us deeply analyze the commercial potential of the project and determine the implementation path. It served not only as a systematic framework connecting our technology to the broader business chain, but also as a key blueprint for attracting resources and guiding practical actions.
We designed the eighth virtual lab experiment- CCK-8 assay, simulating the adding process of CCK-8 reagent and reading absorbance values.
We released our fifteenth to seventeenth REDnote posts, launching a new knowledge card series focused on community interest. The post featured a poll that offered five different iGEM "village" topics. To overcome the platform’s limitation on voting options, we released two follow-up posts on September 15th and 19th to collect votes for the remaining villages.
We established contact with iGEM Munich to exchange our projects and promote collaboration on education .
We designed the ninth virtual lab experiment-Cell transfection, focusing on choosing suitable transfection reagents and plasmid DNA.
We released the seventeenth WeChat official account post, which introduced how synthetic biology uses gene-editing technology to modify biological systems, showcasing applications in areas like eco-friendly plastics and cultured meat.
We designed the tenth virtual lab experiment-Cell infection, to help learners understand virus-mediated gene expression and its applications in research.
We posted a video on TikTok showing the daily routines of our Experiment group.
Upon the completion of our recruitment process, we are proud to introduce our group members: Jiaqi Qu; Fuzhi Wang; Yucheng Liu; Yilong Liao.
Group members focused on different wiki sections according to preference and creative ideas were put forward. The initial drafts of the Team and the HP sections were prepared, while members provided comprehensive insights on web design optimization. We shared designs of visual elements for the homepage (including the Safety, Awards, and Notebook sections), a structured navigation bar and the table of contents.
The Team page design was refined through the integration of illustrated member avatars and the navigation bar. Simultaneously, the HP page layout was optimized with matching components to ensure visual consistency. We proposed the first version of our table of contents and footer, and confirmed the font design.
Group members focused on different wiki sections, refining IHP pages while ensuring design consistency. The navigation bar, table of contents, and background color were standardized. We updated the Team page layout, added our PI and Instructors’ labels, and initiated the Notebook page. The Description page incorporated a navigation bar, a table of contents, and a footer. In the mean time we progressed on the Model section. The footer design was revised, and homepage visuals, including the HP page illustration, were created.
Group members continued refining sections, enhancing visual elements, and improving functionality across the wiki page. Updates were made to the IHP and other key page banners, along with adjustments to the footer for a more cohesive presentation. The Team page visuals were refined, as we optimized the character presentation for HP, Education, and Presentation group sections. We added more details to the Notebook page structure, including the design of overview images as interactive effects and the AI model underwent further modifications. Also, refinements were made to the Description page and navigation bar, ensuring proper integration of key identifiers and our university logo.
A beautifully designed event poster was brought to life by our talented wiki group.
Based on the needs of the Education group, we developed an educational platform and optimized several webpage widgets. Collaboration with group members is still ongoing.
We created a draft Attribution page referring to last year's CJUH-JLU-China team information and optimized our self-designed education platform.
Based on the meaning of our project, we have preliminarily designed six versions of the team logo for selection.
We further refined the webpages we had already built, assisted the Education group in designing jigsaw puzzles and implementing the web-based virtual lab, and also held discussions with the Model group.
After several rounds of screening, we determined the final version of the team logo.
We have completed the operational part and animation interaction of Experiment 1 in the virtual lab, and created the video page for the educational platform.
Our Gene Voyage is taking off! We've finished designing and illustrating our very own Aeroplane Chess cards.
We designed multiple team uniform concepts based on the team's color scheme, logo, and website theme. After two rounds of selection and revisions, we finalized the uniform design and began production.
We designed our team flag by incorporating our team name, logo, and the official iGEM emblem.
We finished the drafts of Model and Engineering web page header images.
To better showcase our team members, we began to arrange half-body portraits for our team members, starting from the Model group.
In order to better suit our features, Wiki members have further improved the Attributions page header image.
The annual event CCiC is a great chance to exchange with national iGEM teams and gain inspiration for improving our own work. We designed a poster for the conference and planned to share our design ideas with other iGEM teams.
Based on the meaning of "BEAM", the image of a lighthouse came to our mind. Therefore, the logo features a lighthouse as its main element, radiating light in all directions. Since "beam" is an ethical model, the little figures holding hands symbolize its people-centered philosophy.
Regarding the meaning of the "contribution" page in iGEM, we started with the Earth as the basic image, then expanded the idea to include tides and the universe. This process eventually led to the final version of the full image.
Based on the main ideas represented by different pages, we created the drawing for the iHP, Model, Engineering, and Collaboration page.
Based on the main themes, we designed the illustration for the Design, Protocol, Parts, and Results page.
In order to make the virtual laboratory pages look more attractive, their layouts have been redesigned.
To enhance the clarity and appeal of our project mechanism in the promotion video, we designed a series of custom graphics to visually explain the core science.
We improved the "Description", "Education" cover image.
On August 18, 2025, we deployed the Description page to our locally hosted site. After five days of revisions and polishing, on August 23, 2025, we officially published it on the iGEM website.
Integrating the shield and the spear, which symbolize protection, we completed the cover image of "Safety".
Based on the elements of our two models, we designed the cover image of Model page.
Integrating the unique technological elements of the software, the cover image of the software was designed.
In response to the requirements for beautification in the promotion video, some graphic refinement has been carried out.
The cover image of iHP website was designed to convey a sense of connecting to the world.
We carefully designed and developed the final page drawing on the scenarios we envisioned and our understanding of the Engineering page.
Drawing on the scenarios we envisioned and our understanding of the Art page, we carefully designed and developed the final Art page.
Based on the connection with "results", the image of wheat ears was added, aiming to convey the idea of achieving a harvest.
The homepage hero image was created by integrating our project theme and the main character design.
After more than half a year of dedicated effort, our Wiki team and HP & Education team have successfully completed the Virtual Laboratory. It contains ten biology experiments and represents a great deal of hard work. A detailed introduction is provided on our Wiki.
Based on the association with medal, we aimed to convey a golden and radiant visual aesthetic for the cover image.
Based on our unique web style, we designed a distinctive loading page.
Aiming for a unique home subpage design, we eventually selected a picture book style rich in texture.
Through team recruitment, our presentation group was set up by 4 outstanding undergraduate students from Jilin University, Sirui Dong, Changning Fu and Hongrui Yu from the first clinical school and Zimu Li from the School of Chemistry.
During the initial phase of the Presentation group's activities, we prepared the Material Library of project’s promotion video to make members be more familiar with iGEM project and presentation work. Through brainstorming, discussions and learning promotion video of past gold projects, we finally came up with 3 different design of promotion video.
According to the review of judges in 2024 jamboree, some problems were pointed out in our attribution page that we need to solve this year. Therefore, we decided to consider our attribution page earlier to avoid the mistakes. After case studies of outstanding projects, we designed the components and texts of this year’s attribution page.
In our review of 2024 jamboree, our notebook had problems in page loading and readability. Therefore, we start planning our notebook at the begin of this year’s project. We conducted case studies of top teams JU-Krakow and Heidelberg, making grate updates in way of presenting our notebook. After design is decided, we made demo web page with the help of wiki group.
The idea of creating an online web helper in our wiki came up by our wiki group members. Inspired by websites that built-in chatbots or virtual assistants, we recognized that we could develop our own chatbots in our wiki to answer questions relative to our project that viewers of our wiki may ask. Therefore, our project can be interpreted better and help iGEMers locating what they are curious about more quickly. We brainstormed some questions people may ask and collect them down. We will continue collecting questions and answer them while the project develops gradually.
The safety page was one of the weak points in our wiki last year. In the past, we considered safety to be a limited concept that only involved wet lab safety. However, after viewing other teams’ wiki, we have realized that safety is a multifaceted concept, which not only about laboratory safety but also biosafety of projects and the social and psychological safety in HP activities etc. For this reason, we started preparing the safety page in advance, redesigning its content outline and developing the page layout.
We prepared the Material Library of project’s presentation video early this year to ensure our video attractive and suitable to project. Through brainstorming, discussions and learning presentation video of past iGEM projects, we finally came up with 3 different designs of presentation video.
We created the project mechanism flowchart with the help of BioRender. With the help of the experiment group, we drafted the initial chart and improved it through wide discussion. After 2 times of completely revised and redrawn, we illustrated the first version of project mechanism flowchart.
After a month of dedicated effort, we completed the drafting and refinement of the safety documentation. We also visited the laboratory to photograph and organize visual materials of the safety equipment. With the support of the Wiki group, we finalized a local demo version of the Safety webpage.
We update the project mechanism flowchart with the help of BioRender. We revisited and restructured the modeling of tumor cell–adipocyte interactions, with a particular focus on detailing the cytokine-mediated pathways affecting adipocytes, to enhance the clarity and communicability of our project’s underlying mechanism.
We have started designing the promotion video and completed the first draft of the script, along with a preliminary plan for the visual style and content. After discussions with Experiment group, the script was refined and some inaccuracies in the part mentioning the project’s theoretical foundation were corrected.
We developed an outline and accordingly finished the first draft of the Description section.
Our first draft felt too rigid, so we revised the content based on a restructured framework, resulting in a more reader-friendly Description section.
We began filming the footage of our promotion video. Unlike last year’s animation, this year we adopted live-action shooting, and involved many of our team members in the filming process.
After filming the footage in July, we edited and uploaded this year’s promotion video.
started writing the Description page. This page presents the core objectives, technical road map, and scientific significance of the experiment to the entire project.
This month we co-created the Education page with the Education group, revised the text and translated it into English.
In the writing of the iGEM Team page, we clearly presented the interdisciplinary architecture of the team, introduced the modules they were responsible for, such as experimental operations, data simulation, and promotional design, and deeply linked the team roles with project goals, refining their work content.
This month we co-created the Human Practices page with the HP group, revised the text and translated it into English.
We started planning our presentation video, and finished the draft of our script along with initial visual design.
We finished writing the Model wiki content. By communicating with members of the Model group, we gained a good understanding of the models, and then revised and polished the manuscript and the wiki page’s image layout.
