Centering on the millennia-old wisdom of “treating diseases before they arise” from The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon, the NNU-CHINA team integrates the cultural essence of preventive medicine in traditional Chinese medicine into their project, revitalizing ancient health philosophies in modern medical scenarios and promoting the value of traditional culture. The team developed a folic acid metabolism enzyme-related genetic testing product using a fluorescence signal detection system that combines PCR, specially designed probes, and RNase H II. By accurately detecting SNPs in the MTHFR gene, the product predicts folic acid metabolism risks in pregnant women in advance and provides personalized supplementation plans for active folic acid. This approach embodies the concept of “treating diseases before they arise” through modern technology, achieving a deep integration of traditional culture and cutting-edge life sciences while supporting the implementation of prenatal and postnatal care policies.

Birth defects represent a significant challenge in the field of global public health. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 8 million newborns worldwide are born with birth defects each year. In the Southeast Asia region, birth defects rank as the fourth most common cause of neonatal deaths, accounting for 12% of all neonatal mortality. Among the contributing factors, folic acid deficiency is one of the primary preventable causes. These defects not only endanger individual health but also impose a heavy burden on healthcare systems and society.

In China, the situation of birth defect prevention and control remains severe. Each year, 1 million to 1.2 million newborns are diagnosed with birth defects, with approximately one new case every 30 seconds. In 2012, the national incidence of birth defects was about 5.6%, with nearly 900,000 new cases annually. By 2022, a study covering 500,000 pregnant women indicated that this figure had dropped to 2.5%–3.0%. However, due to China's large population base, the actual number of affected children is still not negligible. Common birth defects include neural tube defects, congenital heart disease, and cleft lip and palate. Notably, folic acid supplementation has been proven effective in reducing the risk of certain birth defects, yet nearly one-third of women of childbearing age in China still suffer from folic acid deficiency.

Folate metabolism capacity is closely linked to enzymes involved in metabolic pathways, with methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) playing a particularly critical role. A common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) occurs at the C677T locus of the MTHFR gene. When the cytosine (C) base mutates to thymine (T), the MTHFR enzyme misfolds, significantly impairing its activity. As a result, folate cannot be successfully metabolized into active folate, which is absorbable by the human body. Depending on the 677C→T mutation, three genotypes can be observed: CC, CT, and TT. Women carrying the TT genotype exhibit a significantly reduced ability to utilize folate, which also increases the risk of birth defects in newborns.

Currently, the commonly used clinical folic acid detection methods have limitations: traditional methods fail to fully consider genetic differences, while cutting-edge technologies such as fourth-generation sequencing are difficult to popularize due to high costs (approximately 200–500 yuan per sample) and strict equipment requirements. In response to this situation, our project aims to develop a rapid and low-cost MTHFR genotyping tool, providing a scientific basis for personalized folic acid supplementation, thereby helping to reduce birth defects and safeguard the healthy start of every new life.

Folic acid (vitamin B9), an essential micronutrient for the human body, plays a crucial role in cell division and DNA synthesis and repair. Especially in the early stages of life, adequate folic acid intake is irreplaceable for preventing birth defects such as fetal neural tube defects (NTDs). With in-depth research, the value of folic acid in a broader range of maternal and child health fields, such as the prevention of pregnancy complications, child development, and women's lifelong health, has also attracted increasing attention. To gain a deeper understanding of the latest progress in the clinical application of folic acid, the challenges faced, and future research directions, we had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Wen Juan from the Clinical Nutrition Department of Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Hospital. Dr. Wen Juan has long been committed to perinatal care, birth defect prevention and control, and maternal and child nutrition, and has accumulated rich clinical experience in the rational application of folic acid.

During the interview with Dr. Juan Wen, we gained a profound understanding of the importance of folic acid supplementation. We learned that the value of folic acid runs through the entire life of the fetus. For mothers and infants, folic acid can reduce neural tube malformations by 70%, decrease other congenital diseases such as cleft lip and palate, congenital heart disease, and fetal leukemia, and optimize pregnancy outcomes, such as reducing the risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension and placental abruption, and preventing anemia during pregnancy.

In addition, we were also fortunate to interview Dr. Bai Jin, Director of the Obstetrics Department of Jiangsu Maternity and Child Health Hospital. Dr. Jin's professional research focuses on pregnancy complicated with endocrine and metabolic abnormalities, and she is particularly proficient in the standardized diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

During the interview, we learned that the existing detection methods currently include serum and plasma folic acid quantitative detection, red blood cell quantitative detection, gene polymorphism detection, and multi-gene combined detection. Unfortunately, there is currently no folic acid metabolism detection method that is accurate, inexpensive, rapid, and easy to operate.

If blood tests depict the current state, then genetic testing reveals the innate endowment deeply rooted in the genetic code.

Folate metabolism relies on the catalysis of various enzymes, all of which are tightly regulated by specific genes. Among these, a key locus (C677T) on the gene encoding the MTHFR enzyme has garnered significant attention. Based on mutation patterns, it can be classified into three genotypes: homozygous wild-type CC, heterozygous CT, and homozygous mutant TT.

This inherent difference has a profound impact. For women planning to conceive, the TT genotype means they need a higher dose of folic acid supplementation (usually 0.8–1.0 mg per day); otherwise, the risk of fetal neural tube development disorders will increase significantly. The technologies for exploring this genetic blueprint are also constantly innovating. From the relatively cumbersome early PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and classic Sanger sequencing to the faster and even visualized methods available today. For example, detection based on the CRISPR-Cpf1 system can clearly show genotyping results within just half an hour using a colloidal gold test strip similar to an early pregnancy test strip. There is also an innovative dual-sample kit that can accurately interpret the genetic code from both traditional venous blood and a simple swab of oral mucosal cells, with accuracy comparable to the gold standard sequencing. However, these methods all have drawbacks, such as cumbersome operation, lengthy processing times, and high costs. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new analytical methods that are both cost-effective and capable of rapid detection.

Folic acid is a "development guardian" throughout the early stages of life development and a "vascular defender" against aging-related diseases. Scientific supplementation should follow the principle of "no supplementation if not deficient, precise matching": the general population mainly relies on dietary intake, while special groups should follow medical advice. In the future, with the development of gene-guided nutrition, folic acid supplementation will enter an era of greater precision.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the two doctors for taking time out of their busy schedules to accept our interview and share their valuable insights and experience in the clinical application and research of folic acid. Their in-depth and easy-to-understand explanations not only deepened our understanding of the importance of folic acid but also provided an important clinical perspective for the research direction of our project.

Moreover, except doctors in China, we also have the honor to interview three Pakistan professors. We asked Doctor Sulaiman Tahir three questions, and the first question is that our program is designed to help with better births and better upbringing of children, but the importance of folic acid supplementation may vary from country to country and region to region. Do you think the concept of folic acid supplementation has gained enough popularity among pregnant women in Pakistan? Sadly, the answer we got is yes, but only among the educated people, rural areas and uneducated are not aware as we can see many cases of neural tube defects. Anyway, Pakistan does currently require pregnant women to be tested for their ability to metabolize folic acid. And the third question is from your professional point of view, what is the current market demand for rapid and accurate folate metabolism testing technology? Doctor Sulaiman Tahir’s answer is increase in awareness and genetic testing, and educating people.

Dr. Muhammad Kamran Haider from the Central Military Hospital Multan, Pakistan, when talking about adverse pregnancy outcomes caused by the lack of timely folic acid supplementation, stated that "such cases are very rare these days," which reflects the popularization effects of current awareness and practice regarding folic acid supplementation. From a clinical perspective, he emphasized that folic acid is "a key nutrient for fetal development," and its supporting role in pregnancy runs through the critical stages of fetal growth, serving as the foundation for ensuring the normal development of the fetus.

Regarding folic acid supplementation for women of childbearing age, he provided clear clinical recommendations: "For married women of childbearing age, I prescribe folic acid supplements for them." This offers specific guidance on folic acid supplementation for women of childbearing age from the perspective of practical diagnosis and treatment, helping to reduce pregnancy risks and safeguard the health of both mothers and infants.

During the interview with Prof. Dr. Haji Muhammad Shoaib Khan, we gained in-depth insights into the current development status of Pakistan in the field of "developing new diagnostic methods using synthetic biology technology" and also clearly grasped the core value of interdisciplinary collaboration in driving breakthroughs in this field. He pointed out that the innovation and implementation of synthetic biology diagnostic technologies are not only a key approach to addressing Pakistan's public health diagnostic needs, but also rely on the collaborative efforts of multiple disciplines and entities. Their significance runs through the entire chain of diagnostic technology research and development, application, and promotion.

The renowned Chinese educator and thinker Tao Xingzhi once said, "Cultivating individuals is like gardening or planting trees. We must first understand the characteristics of flowers and plants, then provide them with fertilization and watering tailored to their specific needs. To make professional communication on topics like folic acid and synthetic biology more impactful, we need to clearly define the objectives and audience of each presentation, analyze the background, interests, and needs of the target audience, and learn how to promote customized content. Therefore, we have designed a research report to collect feedback, allowing for continuous adjustments to the content, format, and promotion strategies."

After collecting sufficient background information, we initiated the project design, aiming to provide a solution for addressing the cumbersome folate detection process. It is indicated in existing literature that the MTHFR gene mutation is formed by the single-base substitution of C (cytosine) with T (thymine). We designed two allele-specific probes—one targeting the wild-type sequence and the other targeting the mutant MTHFR sequences. The wild-type probe contains an RNA base, rG, which pairs complementarily with the C base in MTHFR 677CC, while the mutant probe contains rA to complement the T base in MTHFR 677TT. Each probe was labeled with both fluorescent and quenching groups: the wild-type probe was labeled with FAM and BHQ1, and the mutant probe was labeled with ROX and BHQ2.

RNase H II (Ribonuclease H II) is an endoribonuclease that specifically hydrolyzes the phosphodiester bonds of RNA, when hybridized to DNA. This enzyme is heat-resistant, allowing it to be used in combination with the PCR reaction.

In this project, a combination of PCR, RNase H II, and DNA probes was used. The PCR process exponentially increases the number of target gene fragments in MTHFR. When a probe perfectly hybridizes to its target, RNase H II is activated and cleavage the RNA base in probe, separating the broken DNA fragments. This causes the fluorescent group at the 5' end of the probe to move away from the quenching group at the 3' end, resulting in an increase in fluorescence intensity. After validating this principle, we established the detection system using a one tube and dual probes. Upon completion of the one-tube reaction, all three MTHFR genotypes (CC, CT, and TT) can be distinguished based on the output results from the qPCR instrument. Optimal reaction conditions were identified and the analytical performance was fully characterized. Furthermore, we applied this system to the detection of actual blood samples. All test results were consistent with sequencing results, indicating that the accuracy of our experiment reached 100%.

At 9 a.m. on June 14, an online exchange event filled with intellectual collision and cutting-edge exploration kicked off, as the iGEM teams from Nanjing Normal University and Yunnan Normal University gathered in the cloud to initiate an in-depth dialogue on the synthetic biology competition. The two teams immediately engaged in intense discussions focusing on the direction and content of their projects.

On July 15, at the invitation of Nanjing University, delegations from the two universities held an online meeting. This meeting not only facilitated an exchange of their respective project contents and progress in the iGEM competition but also included detailed discussions on the technical challenges encountered, the solution strategies adopted, and future research directions.

On July 16th, the teams from Nanjing Normal University and Beijing Institute of Technology systematically reviewed the technical highlights and social values of the projects participated in over the years, and deeply explored the innovative application potential of synthetic biology in fields such as environmental remediation, agricultural upgrading, and medical health. The two teams briefly shared the preliminary concepts, technical routes, and expected innovation points of their respective projects. The BIT team presented their preliminary ideas in the design of biomaterials or sustainable production; while the NNU team exchanged their technical considerations in the design of diagnostic components such as biosensors and reporting systems.

On the same day, Nanjing Normal University engaged in an exchange with Hubei University. Both parties agreed to establish an open communication channel to share experiences and provide mutual assistance in areas such as technical challenges in experiments, Wiki development, artistic design, social practices, and promotional efforts.

On July 19, at the invitation of Nanjing Agricultural University, the NNU-China team visited the conference room of Nanjing Agricultural University for an offline exchange with the NAU-China team. Focusing on the widely discussed social issue of fertility, NNU-China addressed the problem of MTHFR gene defects related to folate metabolism, starting with folate—a critical factor in the comprehensive healthy development of fetuses. Utilizing synthetic biology techniques, the team explored the connection between genes and folate metabolism and designed a low-cost, high-efficiency diagnostic reagent to assess folate metabolism levels.

On July 21, Nanjing Normal University and Huazhong Agricultural University held an online exchange. The two teams engaged in in-depth discussions on distributing English-language promotional brochures during community activities, producing science popularization videos related to their projects to enhance public awareness and understanding of the disease, exchanging ideas on picture book design styles and character creation, and creating a second animated video to better showcase their project content.

At the CCIC Forum, the NNU-China team engaged with multiple teams, including those from Nanjing University, Yunnan Normal University, Hubei University, Beijing Institute of Technology, and Huazhong Agricultural University, to share design concepts and principles. They conducted several high-intensity, high-quality core activities, collectively exploring cutting-edge advances and practical pathways in synthetic biology, which garnered acclaim from numerous universities.

During the offline exchange with Nanjing Agricultural University, the two teams systematically reviewed the technical highlights and social value of past competition projects and held in-depth discussions on the innovative application potential of synthetic biology in fields such as environmental remediation, agricultural upgrading, and healthcare.

At the Functional Nucleic Acids Seminar organized by the Peking University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, NNU-China collaborated with ZJU-China and CJUH-JLU-China to deliver a presentation on the forefront of functional nucleic acid applications in biomedical diagnosis and therapy.

Hosts: BIT-China; JLU-NBBMS; Tongji-China; NAU-China; Nanjing-China; ZJU-China & CJUH-JLU-China

Led by Jilin university，multiple schools have collaborated to jointly explore the role of functional nucleic acids, and together written the White Paper on Innovative Applications of Functional Nucleic Acids in iGem.

Invited by Nanjing Agricultural University, we participated in the construction of the "Into China, Into iGEM (ICII)" platform. ICII serves as a collaborative space where iGEM teams can share their projects and ideas while incorporating cultural insights. The platform is inspired by the Silk Road, a historical symbol of cultural exchange, and seeks to foster a modern-day dialogue between science and culture. In 2025, the platform hosted 14 iGEM teams from 11 cities across China, including major urban hubs like Nanjing, Beijing, and Wuhan, each contributing unique scientific and cultural perspectives. The platform is divided into three key sections: ICII Panorama, where teams present their research; Dialogue Gallery, showcasing the integration of culture with synthetic biology; and the Silk Road Forum, which encourages global discussions on the future of synthetic biology and its cultural relevance. ICII is designed to not only showcase scientific research but also bridge regional and cultural differences, providing a space for teams to collaborate and learn from one another. Teams can use the platform to share their projects, engage in discussions, and contribute to a growing network of cross-disciplinary knowledge.

The research results of the laboratory should be combined with practical applications to make advanced technologies serve social needs and promote industrial development and social progress. In this process, product design and production will be experienced, which are quite different from the R&D work in the laboratory. The team is well aware that going deep into the front line of enterprises and understanding the technology transformation path are crucial for promoting the implementation of scientific research projects and realizing the value of scientific research. To provide professional guidance and innovative inspiration for the folic acid detection research project, the team visited Amp-Future (Changzhou) Biotech Co., Ltd. to explore the development and application of genetic testing technology and gain valuable experience for scientific research practice.

As an important carrier of technology R&D and market application, enterprises' development history, technical accumulation, and product layout can provide intuitive and practical references for scientific research teams. Understanding the core technologies of enterprises helps researchers grasp the cutting-edge trends of the industry and adjust research directions. Exploring the types of enterprise products enables scientific research teams to clarify market needs and promote the connection between scientific research results and practical applications. The standards for talent demand of enterprises can also provide guidance for the career planning of team members. In the long run, such exchanges and interactions between universities and enterprises can not only promote the optimization and upgrading of scientific research projects but also cultivate professionals with both theoretical knowledge and practical ability for the industry, contributing to the sustainable development of related fields.

On July 18, 2025, the team visited Amp-Future (Changzhou) Biotech Co., Ltd. Under the leadership of General Manager Cao Wei, they toured the company's production line and conducted in-depth exchanges and discussions with him, gaining a lot.

General Manager Cao Wei gave a detailed introduction to the company's development history. The company has independently developed core technologies and a strong R&D team. It has always adhered to industrial standards in enzyme modification, optimization and adjustment, and production links, and its workshops have obtained relevant certifications. He also introduced that the company's production process, from microbial fermentation to purification, and finally freeze-drying to form dry powder products, is closely linked in all links and meets industrial standards. This enabled team members to better explore the application of cutting-edge technologies and provided an intuitive perspective for the team to understand the industrial production process of genetic testing-related products.

During the technical discussion, General Manager Wei Cao focused on explaining the company's independently developed Multienzyme Isothermal Rapid Amplification (MIRA) technology, which is based on RPA technology. Different from PCR technology, this technology simulates the intracellular DNA damage repair mechanism and realizes rapid DNA repair and amplification through the synergistic effect of multiple enzymes such as recombinase, single-strand binding protein, and polymerase, with the advantages of short time and high sensitivity. Notably, due to the low reaction temperature of MIRA technology, the risk of aerosol pollution is also low. These characteristics make MIRA technology have significant advantages and broad prospects. During the exchange, General Manager Wei Cao also answered the team's questions encountered in experiments, such as probe length and abnormal fluorescent signals, providing strong guidance for the team's experimental work.

The team also learned that isothermal amplification technology has a wide range of application fields, covering virus and bacteria detection, species identification, food safety, animal husbandry and aquaculture, plant detection, and other aspects. In the medical field, it can be used for the detection of hepatitis viruses, etc.; in pet medical care, the company is promoting home self-test products; in the field of food safety, it can help identify the authenticity of meat, etc.

With the in-depth development of research, technology has been applied in a wider range of daily scenarios, such as community hospitals and home testing. It is believed that with the maturity of technology and the growth of market demand, the prospect of related products will be broader. At the same time, the company's business is transforming from raw material R&D to product manufacturing, forming a complete industrial chain layout to better meet customer needs. This also enabled team members to more intuitively understand the future development prospects of synthetic biology.

This visit to Amp-Future (Changzhou) Biotech Co., Ltd. allowed team members to not only gain an in-depth understanding of genetic testing-related technologies and products, solve confusion in experiments but also clarify the connection between scientific research projects, enterprise applications, and market demands, accumulating valuable experience for synthetic biology practice. Taking this practice as an opportunity, the team will further optimize the research direction, improve practical ability, and contribute to promoting the development of folic acid metabolism detection technology.

The ultimate significance of scientific inquiry lies in taking root in life, serving life, integrating cutting-edge discoveries into daily choices, and transforming rigorous knowledge into a force for safeguarding health. Our team has always believed that popularizing and contextualizing scientific knowledge in daily life is a crucial bridge connecting laboratories with the general public. To truly bring professional knowledge of food and drug safety as well as life sciences into communities and benefit teenagers, the team carefully planned and carried out a series of science popularization lectures, sowing the seeds of science in a life-oriented way and helping the public practice health concepts in daily life.

The team went to Laifeng Street Community and Cuilin Villa Community respectively, and carried out two targeted science popularization activities. The audiences of the lectures were children and teenagers. Children and teenagers have a strong sense of curiosity and spirit of exploration, and they are exploring the world with an increasingly rational attitude. This stage is a golden period for them to shape their cognition and develop habits, and they have not yet formed rigid wrong concepts. At this time, "instilling" scientific knowledge of food and drug safety and life health can help them establish correct cognitive frameworks and behavioral norms more effectively. At the same time, as the future of families and society, the scientific concepts they master will affect the lifestyle of the entire family, and even continue to radiate to a wider social circle. In the long run, it can also cultivate a new generation with better scientific literacy for the society, which is a fundamental measure to contribute to the construction of "Healthy China".

On July 10, 2025, the team went to Laifeng Street Community and gave a themed science popularization lecture titled "How Much Do You Know About Food Ingredients" to the children in the summer care class. The activity included sessions such as questionnaire survey, classroom explanation, and interactive Q&A.

The team carefully designed two types of questionnaires for parents and children, focusing on family medication safety and food common sense respectively. The aim was to understand the current reserve of family medication common sense and directly grasp children's cognitive level of food knowledge. This two-way questionnaire not only provided a basis for the team to adjust the content of subsequent lectures in a targeted manner, but also subtly guided parents and children to pay attention to the details of food and drug safety together, laying a solid foundation for the smooth development of the activity.

In the lecture session, team members took "Understanding the Ingredient List to Guard the Gate of Health" as the core, and combined daily diet scenarios to transform professional knowledge into vivid cases. In the Q&A interaction session at the end of the activity, the children raised their hands enthusiastically and answered questions actively, creating a warm atmosphere on site. This activity received a good response. It not only disseminated food safety knowledge, but also sowed the seeds of scientific exploration in the hearts of the children.

On the morning of July 17, 2025, the team joined hands with Cuilin Villa Community to carry out a public welfare biology popularization activity themed "The Wonderful Small World of Life". This activity integrated theoretical explanation, interactive creation and experimental verification, building a bridge between biological science and daily life for teenagers.

The team took "Exploring the Microscopic World" as the starting point and systematically explained the classification and functions of microorganisms. In the "Folic Acid - Guardian of Health" section, the team combined human physiology principles and wet experiment research results, explained the physiological functions of folic acid in vivid language and innovative forms, supplemented dietary guidance on folic acid, and guided teenagers to establish a healthy concept of balanced diet.

In the interactive session, team members designed themed creation tasks such as "Microbial Food Chain" and "Folic Acid Dietary Pyramid", as well as scientific illustration templates and interesting small experiments. Through the combination of pictures and text, the students transformed abstract concepts into concrete works and completed the internalization of knowledge in the process of creation.

The person in charge of the community expressed gratitude to the team and said that in the future, they will continue to cooperate with university resources to carry out more life-oriented science popularization activities. The team will also continue to innovate the forms of science popularization, optimize the content and system of science popularization, and contribute the youth power to the construction of "Healthy China".

To ensure the scientific validity of the project content, the team specifically interviewed Professor Jieshu Wu from the School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University. Professor Wu has long been committed to research on maternal and child nutrition and early-life health. She provided professional interpretations on the key role of folic acid in pregnancy nutrition, the impact of folic acid metabolism capacity on maternal and infant health, and the significance of promoting relevant detection technologies, while also offering valuable suggestions to the team.

As a water-soluble vitamin, folic acid is an essential nutrient for human cell growth and reproduction. Professor Wu pointed out that folic acid is particularly important in the early stages of embryonic development. Folic acid deficiency is also closely associated with maternal complications such as megaloblastic anemia, gestational hypertension, and preeclampsia. She emphasized that adequate folic acid supplementation has been proven by numerous studies to effectively reduce the risk of birth defects such as neural tube defects.

Professor Wu further elaborated on the specific impact of folic acid metabolism capacity on maternal and infant health. She mentioned that folic acid must be converted into its active form through a series of enzymatic reactions in the human body before it can be absorbed and utilized. Among these, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a key enzyme in the folic acid metabolism pathway. Mutations in the MTHFR gene (e.g., 677C→T) can lead to decreased enzyme activity, causing folic acid metabolism disorders and insufficient function, thereby increasing the risk of abnormal fetal development and maternal pregnancy complications. Currently, many experts at home and abroad recommend that women of childbearing age pay attention to folic acid intake, and point out that MTHFR gene polymorphism is a crucial factor determining an individual's folic acid nutritional status. Professor Wu stated that promoting gene testing related to folic acid metabolism capacity will help achieve "individualized" and "precision-based" folic acid supplementation, enabling women preparing for pregnancy and those who are pregnant to reasonably adjust the dosage and duration of folic acid supplementation based on their own genetic characteristics, thereby improving the effectiveness of intervention.

As a senior mentor with years of experience guiding students' research projects, Professor Wu also offered suggestions to the student team participating in iGEM. She fully affirmed the application potential of the project and emphasized that the team needs to conduct in-depth research on the performance, advantages, and disadvantages of existing similar products, and make efforts in technical optimization and cost control. Meanwhile, clarifying the target population and formulating effective promotion strategies will be an important step for the project to move towards implementation. Professor Wu Jieshu stated that combining genetic testing with nutritional intervention represents the future development direction in the field of maternal and child nutrition, and she looks forward to the iGEM team exerting innovative spirit in this interdisciplinary field and proposing solutions with practical application value.

We have established connections with experts from maternal and child health institutions. They expressed recognition for the team's project and conducted innovative discussions with us regarding potential future applications. We explored the possibility of expanding the methodology by leveraging the modular nature of the detection system — by adjusting probe design and amplification strategies, the same framework can be extended to more genetic loci related to maternal health and other fields, creating a multifunctional molecular diagnostic toolkit. We also discussed combining this system with isothermal amplification methods and lateral flow immunoassays to enhance portability, enabling non-professionals to perform accurate testing after minimal training. Additionally, we explored the development direction of automation and multi-omics integration to align with the general trend of precision medicine. Detailed information can be found in the proposed implementation section.

Through a series of targeted and diverse activities, we have closely linked cutting-edge research with public science popularization, striving to break down the cognitive barriers of synthetic biology and disseminate practical, scientific health knowledge:

Medical Dialogues: The team conducted in-depth discussions with a number of doctors (especially obstetricians and gynecologists) on the importance of folic acid supplementation during pregnancy, scientific supplementation methods, and common precautions. These dialogues enhanced our understanding of actual clinical needs and also promoted scientific nutritional concepts.

Science Popularization Promotion: Team members produced a approximately 1-minute science popularization video, which scientifically and intuitively demonstrates the detection principle and related experimental procedures. Through dissemination on multiple platforms, more people have learned about the team's accurate, efficient, and low-cost folic acid metabolism level detection technology.

Community Education: The team carried out biological science popularization activities for children and adolescents in Laifeng Street Community and Cuilin Villa Community. These activities combined the basic knowledge of synthetic biology with interesting practices. Through vivid explanations and interactive experiences, abstract concepts of synthetic biology were transformed into tangible and perceptible wonderful phenomena for children. These activities not only broadened their scientific horizons but also sowed the seeds of exploring the mysteries of life, realizing the effective extension of science education at the community level.

Academic Linkage and Communication: Through media platforms such as Bilibili, WeChat Official Accounts, and Tik Tok, the team conducted exchanges on competition experience and project progress with multiple universities including Nanjing Agricultural University, Hubei University, Beijing Institute of Technology, and Huazhong Agricultural University, and published a number of theme articles. In addition, the team also actively participated in academic conferences such as CCIC, discussing the cutting-edge progress and practical paths of synthetic biology with teams from the frontlines of scientific research, industry, and education, so as to promote the collision of ideas and knowledge sharing.