Upholding the open-source spirit of iGEM, our team has devoted considerable effort to creating reusable, well-documented, and experimentally validated resources that empower future teams to design, test, and communicate synthetic biology systems more effectively

Our contributions span three dimensions: biological parts, hardware, and human practices frameworks, each addressing unmet needs in the iGEM community and providing accessible foundations for future work.

The Nuclear Export Signal (BBa_K4414003) was originally introduced by NUDT-CHINA 2022 but lacked direct functional validation. To make this part more useful for future teams, we conducted live-cell imaging to confirm its biological activity and provide the first experimental evidence of its export capability.

Methods

We constructed an NES-mCherry fusion expression plasmid (pNC25066) under the CMV promoter and transfected it into HeLa cells (2 µg DNA per 2.5 × 10⁵ cells) using PEI. Live-cell confocal imaging was performed 24 h post-transfection on a Leica SP8 system.

Results

mCherry alone showed diffuse nuclear and cytoplasmic distribution, while NES-mCherry fluorescence was clearly cytoplasmic, confirming that the NES sequence efficiently mediated nuclear export (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Confocal Microscopy of HELA cells transfected with NES-mcherry. Scale, 25 μm

This updated experimental documentation has been added to the part's Registry page, providing future iGEM teams with validated localization data, experimental parameters, and imaging references.

To extend beyond a single part, we established a standardized Subcellular Localization Toolkit (see our Parts Collection page).

This collection provides a modular framework for targeting proteins to key intracellular compartments: including the membrane (TMD, CAAX, NotchCore), cytoskeleton (LifeAct), mitochondria (MTS), nucleus (NLS/NES), endoplasmic reticulum (KDEL), and secretory pathway (IgK Secretory signal).

Each module was experimentally validated via live-cell confocal imaging in HeLa, ensuring that every localization tag performs predictably under mammalian expression conditions. All parts follow BioBrick assembly standards and are documented with DNA sequences, plasmid maps, imaging data, and recommended usage ratios.

Recognizing the lack of standardized optogenetic hardware in iGEM, we developed SPARKbox, a compact and affordable illumination device enabling precise light control for mammalian cell culture (see our Hardware page).

SPARKbox delivers multi-wavelength illumination (violet, green, and NIR) with no light leakage, integrated ventilation channels, and adjustable intensity and timing via a custom Raspberry Pi-based interface.

The device was designed and refined with feedback from optogenetics experts Dr. Shaowei Zhang and Prof. Jiawei Shao, ensuring real experimental utility and biocompatibility.

Figure 2. Dynamic explosion view of SPARK box

Figure 3. Real picture of SPARK box

All design files — including 3D models, circuit diagrams, and Python control scripts — are openly shared on our GitLab and Software pages, along with an illustrated assembly manual for complete reproducibility.

Beyond the lab, we also contributed to the social and ethical dimensions of synthetic biology through the creation of a comprehensive Human Practices framework and educational resources.

We authored the handbook “People-Oriented: A Practical Guide to Social Research in Synthetic Biology”, which compiles our experiences and best practices in community engagement, ethics, and public communication.

•   A step-by-step structure for designing surveys and interviews responsibly
•   Ethical guidelines for interacting with stakeholders
•   Age- and background-specific outreach strategies validated in real events.

Social Research Handbook

Especially, we developed a comprehensive handbook, "People-oriented: A Practical Guide to Social Research in Synthetic Biology,"(see our Education page) to address the critical challenges iGEMers face when engaging with the public. This guide provides future teams with a systematic framework to conduct ethical, effective, and reliable social research. It establishes clear ethical red lines, offers practical communication techniques to enhance data quality, and delivers tailored strategies for diverse age groups. Validated through our own practice, this handbook serves as a foundational tool to ensure that future human practices are both scientifically rigorous and deeply respectful of all participants.

Figure 4. The cover of "People-oriented: A Practical Guide to Social Research in Synthetic Biology"

Developed independently by NUDT-CHINA 2025, the handbook empowers future teams to plan Human Practices activities that are scientifically rigorous, ethically grounded, and socially impactful.