CONTRIBUTION

PARTS CONTRIBUTION

Our team designed and developed 17 new genetic parts, which we registered in the iGEM Registry to support future teams. Nine of these parts are associated with the Catalytic Hairpin Assembly (CHA) reaction, developed through successive engineering design cycles to enhance detection performance. One part corresponds to the biomarker hsa-miR-486-5p, which we used as a microRNA biomarker for sepsis detection, serving as the target molecule to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of our system. The remaining seven parts are related to the plasmid vector and expression cassettes for CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs) and Cas13a, enabling coordinated expression and functional characterization of our CRISPR–Cas13a detection platform.

Human Practices & Outreach

Booklet: Sepsis Fact Sheet

The Sepsis Fact Sheet is an inclusive educational resource explaining sepsis, its symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, and global impact. It highlights how symptoms may differ across skin tones and addresses disparities across age, race, and socioeconomic groups.

This resource contributes to iGEM by providing a documented tool that future teams can use for outreach and education. By presenting sepsis inclusively, it helps ensure equitable access to life-saving information and encourages timely care for all populations.

Booklet: Life After Sepsis

“Life After Sepsis” is a Post Sepsis Syndrome Support Guide; an educational resource for patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. It explains the physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges faced by sepsis survivors and offers practical strategies for recovery, including rehabilitation tips, communication advice, and ways to create supportive environments. The guide emphasizes holistic care, empathy, and understanding to improve quality of life for survivors.

This guide contributes to iGEM by providing a documented resource that future teams can use for health education, patient support, and community outreach. By sharing inclusive, practical knowledge about Post Sepsis Syndrome, it helps ensure equitable support for all survivors and equips iGEMers with tools to promote awareness, empathy, and holistic care in medical and research contexts.

Bio-home

Our team developed the “Cell House” educational tool, which uses the analogy of a house to explain the structure and function of a biological cell. Each part of the cell is represented by a familiar room or space in a house, making complex biology concepts tangible and easy to understand. The tool includes an illustrated guide and a ready-to-use teaching script, designed for outreach activities with children and students with special needs. It can be adapted for classrooms, workshops, or other educational settings, providing a hands-on, engaging way to introduce fundamental biology concepts.

Future iGEM teams can build upon the “Cell House” by creating new analogies, adapting the materials for different audiences, or integrating it into broader outreach programs. By sharing this resource, we offer a reusable, inclusive, and accessible tool for science communication, helping iGEMers engage diverse learners and promote understanding of synthetic biology in a creative and memorable way.

DNA EXTRACTION EXPERIMENT

Our team developed a hands-on DNA extraction experiment using bananas or strawberries and common household materials. This activity includes a detailed educator’s guide and a ready-to-use teaching script, allowing children and the public to see DNA with their own eyes and learn fundamental biology concepts in an engaging, interactive way.

Future iGEM teams can build upon this experiment by adapting it for different age groups, creating additional teaching materials, or integrating it into outreach events and science festivals. By sharing this resource, we provide a practical, accessible tool that helps iGEMers promote science education and make abstract concepts like DNA tangible and memorable.

BOARD GAME BIO SHUFFLE

“SynBio Shuffle” is an ADHD-friendly educational board game designed to make learning biology fun, accessible, and inclusive for neurodiverse players. It features varied question types, short speed rounds, and optional read-aloud support to accommodate different attention spans and learning styles, reducing cognitive load while keeping gameplay engaging.

This game contributes to iGEM by providing a documented, accessible tool that teams can use for outreach and education. By explicitly addressing cognitive and attention-related barriers, it helps ensure that biology learning is inclusive for players of all ages and abilities, supporting engagement, participation, and enjoyment in science.

Booklet: Inclusive by Design

The “Inclusive by design” booklet is a practical booklet designed to promote accessibility and equality in healthcare. Through clear directions, it helps healthcare professionals understand and respond to the diverse needs of patients with respect, empathy, and effectiveness. Focusing on accessibility for all, staff awareness and training, and the delivery of equal and inclusive care, the guide aims to create safer and more welcoming healthcare environments for everyone.

This guide is a contribution to iGEM because it provides a documented, reusable framework that other teams can apply to make their projects and outreach efforts more inclusive. By offering concrete recommendations on accessibility, communication, and equitable care, it equips future iGEMers with practical tools to ensure that their innovations benefit all individuals, regardless of ability. In this way, the “Inclusive by Design” booklet strengthens iGEM’s global commitment to openness, diversity, and responsible science.

Booklet: AccessLab - Architectural Design

Our Architectural Design Standard for an Accessible Laboratory, called “AccessLab” is a framework for creating inclusive scientific spaces that accommodate individuals with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities. By rethinking laboratory layout, equipment placement, and overall usability, the standard ensures that all scientists can participate fully in research activities. It provides concrete guidelines for mobility, visibility, comfort, and safety, demonstrating that accessibility can be integrated into laboratory design from the very beginning.

This standard contributes to the iGEM community by offering a documented resource that future teams can use when building or renovating laboratory spaces. By sharing these design principles, we help other teams create inclusive environments that maximize participation and collaboration for researchers of all abilities. This work empowers iGEMers to consider accessibility as a core aspect of laboratory planning, fostering diversity, equity, and innovation in scientific research.

Women’s Voices: Surviving Sepsis

Our team developed “Women’s Voices: Surviving Sepsis”, a short video featuring real testimonies from women whose early sepsis symptoms were dismissed due to gender stereotypes. The video highlights how systemic bias in healthcare can delay diagnosis, sometimes leading to serious consequences such as disability or limb loss. It is designed as an educational resource to raise awareness about sepsis and the importance of inclusive, attentive medical care.

Future iGEM teams or educators can build upon this resource by using the video in workshops, classrooms, or outreach campaigns, or by creating additional materials to explore healthcare disparities. By sharing these patient experiences, we provide a replicable, accessible tool that promotes inclusivity, encourages discussion on gender bias in medicine, and supports iGEM’s mission of connecting synthetic biology and human practices with real-world social impact.

Comic Book

This is a comic that tells the story of a young girl who faces sepsis and loses her hearing, but with resilience and support from friends, she overcomes challenges and pursues her dream of becoming a scientist. The script illustrates personal struggle, adaptation, and empowerment, while also highlighting the importance of inclusion and accessibility in STEM.

This work contributes to the iGEM community by providing an educational and inspirational resource that emphasizes diversity, accessibility, and resilience in scientific pursuits. It encourages teams to consider social and personal factors in their projects, fosters empathy, and offers a creative way to share knowledge and experiences that can inspire and guide future iGEMers.