Take a look at our timeline, where we showcase all the events from our entire iGEM journey 2025. You’ll find detailed insights into everything we did along the way.
In the early stages of TRAPS there was a lot of brainstorming on different project ideas. Back then neither the name TRAPS nor Conny existed. There were many ideas like an optogenetic CAR-T cell based tumor recognition or a project to overcome metabolic burden due to toxic intermediates within an enzyme cascade by enzyme condensation. Throughout the brainstorming process the idea of using condensates as a cellular platform became increasingly appealing.
Our PI, Prof. Mascher, was in favor of using condensates as platform for our iGEM journey. He discouraged the further pursuit of the CAR-T cell project, since it was out of proportion for an iGEM project. From this time on the direction of our project was set. We will do something with cellular condensates. To be honest, when you live in the condensate capital, you are kind of obligated to do something with them.
In late January the core team began to form. Subgroups like lab, dry lab, awareness person, finance, wiki & graphics were set up and members could decide where to join. Additionally group leaders were elected.
Following the decision of using condensates, we invested a lot of elbow grease into brainstorming what system we could utilize in condensates. Firstly, we thought a lot about enzyme cascades which could potentially be improved when they occur within a condensate. Ultimately, we decided on a RNA detection system.
So, the whole team began to research how to engineer such a system. We decided on a SH3 domain as high valency unit and a pumby domain as low valency unit which get brought together by the target RNA, resulting in a condensate.
Our general system received positive feedback from our secondary PI Prof. Alberti, Dr. Franzmann and Prof. Honigmann. They helped us answer raised questions, like which vectors we should use, how we should design our linker, and if we should use mCherry as test target and GFP as reporter fluorophores. But most of all, the granted as access to their lab space, which was our home for the following iGEM-journey.
In the second meeting, with the same experts we got more advice like using a network formation (multiple RNA-protein connections) instead of a single RNA-protein connection. Additionally, they brought our attention to further investigate the potential detection of non-coding RNAs with our system. Even though, the most important take away of this meeting was the discussion of using Cas13 as RNA binding protein instead of Pumbys. This was due to the background, that previous literature of Pumby testing was only done in in vitro, making it hard to adapt it to our wanted, in vivo use case.
On this year’s Uni Steam Day, an outreach event, TRAPS got 3rd place and won a 60€ price.
On this Tuesday, the day for our weekly meeting, we did a team photoshoot and brainstormed different team name ideas (like LillyPhase, DRIPS, Condensia… and TRAPS)
On this day our first Instagram post went online! It was our Group foto.
The poster and presentation for Frankfurt was assessed in this meeting. We gave the presenting persons feedback to achieve the best results possible.
She gave us advice on our bioinformatic problems. For preventing off-target effects we should have ≥3 mismatches.
TRAPS wins the team name election!! Additionally, we planned to participate at the Elbe cleanup event.
The wet lab subgroup met over lunch to discuss RNA target choices and possible gRNA designs.
This was a team bonding event, while also cleaning up nature.
Starting on this date we began building our DNA constructs. We further discussed the cloning strategy, deciding to go with a gateway-system.
The experts advised us to use GFP as a stable reporter and mCherry as target RNA, since it is a fast-degrading model. They also suggest the use of mini-Cas13 variants potentially combined or as alternatives to Pumbys. The goal was to start with wet lab work in 2-3 weeks from this date.
On this day we had our official safety briefing in the Biotec-Lab. We got a really nice tour and our Keys! We came the lab work an important step closer!
On May 6th a research meeting was held to discuss and refine experimental planning. Gateway cloning was chosen as the main cloning strategy and using d.Cas13X.1 in yeast was considered.
At this point the first plasmid isolations and clonings were done. mCherry was first tried to be induced.
In this meeting we decided how we are going to adapt and use the synthetic condensation system designed by Heidenreich et al.
We compared three different Pumby based construct designs. A standalone tetramerization domain, a combination out of tetramerization- and dimerization domain and a mixed system. Ultimately we decided to go with the simple tetramerization domain – only design since it was more feasible and less prone to error.
On the 16th May Dr. Franzmann and Prof. Alberti reviewed our constructs. They gave us the advice to keep everything on one plasmid to simplify transformation into yeast. Additionally Dr. Franzmann suggested tagging each tetramerization domain with GFP, for better visualization.
This was the day where a video with Saxony’s education ministry was filmed. We talked about how it is to participate in a student research competition. You can find it on our Instagram: @igem.dresden !
On May 20, 2025, we discussed lab sustainability. The main focus here was to reduce plastic waste, reusing consumable and to document usage for greener lab practices. The discussed contents became part of our lab routine to commit our part to responsible science.
During the expert meeting at MPI on May 22, 2025 we discussed RNA target selection with the experts. The emphasis was laid on using bioinformatic based prediction tools to avoid off target binding. Additionally they gave us advice on which regions of RNA are most suitable for detection.
From May 23 – 25 members of our team attended the BFH European meetup in Frankfurt. This was our first major external event. They presented a poster and a project pitch, engaged feedback with other iGEM teams and gained valuable insights into project presentation and communication. Furthermore this marked our team's official debut into the iGEM community, forming lasting connections.
One June first our research team finalized the design of our plasmid backbone. It included multiple restriction cutting sites, terminator/promotor cassettes and detection tags which enabled easier protein identification.
On June 2nd we talked to Dr. Kar from the Institute for Polymer research who especially recommended using established assays for condensate analyses if working with RNA binding Proteins. Microscope-based methods to visualize droplet formation and FRAP for quantitative (e.g. stability, dynamic and aggregation) data were recommended.
After a lot of yeast optimization and synthetic trouble with the complexity of our constructs, we finally ordered them in early June 2025.
On June 27, 2025, Fabi and Julius received back-to-back presentation training and advice from Simon Doll. The focus laid on storytelling and pitching skills. This session helped our fellow team members to shape a clear narrative for the following presentation of TRAPS at this year’s Science Slam and following presenting opportunities.
We had a team breakfast to celebrate our progress and discuss the next steps for our project. Dylan even brought his famous homemade Oleg! mmh tatsy!
On this day we joined the B2B Hour hosted in the B-Cube. This is an internal seminar connecting different research groups across the institutions. We presented our project concept and first results to fellow scientists and received a lot of good feedback and advice on our concept. Additionally we used this opportunity as rehearsal for upcoming presentations and pitches.
Our team took part in the Long Night of Science in Dresden. We ran an outreach booth at the CRTD, explained synthetic biology to the public, engaged visitors with interactive activities while raising awareness for both iGEM and our TRAPS project. Most of all we took part in the Science Slam hosted this night and our spokesperson Fabi made 3rd place!
This day marked the official start of our wiki journey. The basic structures and designs were drafted and tasks for writing and coding distributed. Additionally, a lot of ideas were contributed laying the groundwork of our wiki journey!
Well she existed before, but this was the first time her name was mentioned as an idea for the following name voting in our instagram story.
This event was an outreach to elderly citizens. We presented our project at Seniorenakademie, introducing TRAPS and synthetic biology to the audience. We focused on making complex concepts accessible but especially sparking curiosity!
Some members of our team traveled to the Düsseldorf iGEM meetup hosted by the HHU. There we presented our project, exchanged thoughts and held conversations with other iGEM teams.
We met with Dr. Kar to discuss condensate biology. He brought topics such as sub-clusters within condensates closer to us and recommended in vitro methods such as Microscale Thermophoresis or Dynamic Light Scattering for the quantification of protein-RNA interactions. This gave us new ideas to research our system beyond light microscopy.
On this day we spotted fluorescence induced by our TRAPS system for the first time under a microscope!
On the 25th July our team member Li Jing held a Chalk Talk at the CRTD, presenting our first lab results. The main discussion was how to distinguish true condensates from unspecific protein aggregates. The brainstorming session with the podium led to plans for new control and more rigorous image analyses.
Filming for our iGEM promo video.
We faced serious aggregation issues with our Pumby constructs. The Protein clumped together, instead of forming functional condensates. So we shifted the project's focus more on the Cas13 variant, where we also see condensates but know what the potential mistakes in the system are. We decided to order a new Cas13 variant and new gRNAs.
In a lab meeting on August 5, we reorganized the lab work to be more productive. We assigned specific tasks to different team members. So the task became more routine and completion was faster.
This marked the start of protein-level validation for our project. We finished our first Western blot here. Everything went according to plan, unfortunately due to a malfunctioning of the Typhoon imager, the first results were a bit blurry.
We finally collected the leftover lab materials of the previous Dresden iGEM team. And it was more than we expected.
Our research team held a brainstorm meeting discussing new directions for TRAPS in the future.
The discussion with Dr. Jahn gave us new input on how we could advance our system and how we can plan a titration experiment.
Summer social at Großer Garten, Dresden. 🌭
Members of our team met with scientists at the Bone Lab, getting feedback on how TRAPS could be applied in research in osteoimmunology or cancer. Comparing TRAPS to existing detection methods like qPCR. TRAPS could become an additionally method to real time or qPCR for a more dynamic analysis.
Dr. Pekárek discussed target strategies for our TRAPS system. Which RNA structres can be targeted and which should be avoided?
We had a discussion about further tests and experiments. A stress response experiment was discussed and planned.
Since the end of August most of our time and afford has gone to the wiki. We began to co-work for more productivity. Tasks were divided into the different aspects of the wiki, text writing, figure preparation and coding.
We discussed a bunch of potential usecases of TRAPS in an expert meeting with Dr. Alexander Wurm.
Especially interesting could the system be for identifying therapeutic compounds that modulate gene expression in real time.
A western blot of our pumby constructs was done. Unfortunately the antibodies do not seem to work.
From Friday to Saturday members of our team attended the iGEM Meetup in Prague, featuring international teams like Lund or Louvain. We heard many awesome presentations about start-ups formed from iGEM-projects, venture capital and project presentations from participating teams. We also presented a draft of our Paris-presentation. We received great feedback on our system and presentation! The event offered valuable insights, and we got food and beer! Thank you Prague!
Submitted safety forms & check-in for Jamboree.
Our team invited iGEM Potsdam to come to Dresden. Potsdam is the only other east german team and we discussed our iGEM east germany project and our projects. Additionally we gave them a little tour through our lab.
Times are about to get hot. Everyone works hard on the wiki!
The big stage! Team Dresden presents TRAPS journey. 🎉
