DNA Workshop: Editing and Transformation

Between June 20th, 21st, 28th, and 29th, 2025, from 09:00 to 14:00 hrs, iGEM UAM organized a specialized training course in collaboration with Openlab. The program was designed to introduce participants to the field of synthetic biology through both theoretical sessions and laboratory practice, with a particular focus on bacterial transformation in Escherichia coli and the use of computational tools for genetic design.

The course combined lectures, hands-on activities, and invited talks, aiming to provide students with a broad understanding of synthetic biology’s foundations, applications, and interdisciplinary challenges.

Course Topics

The course was designed to cover both theoretical and practical aspects of synthetic biology. The program included the following modules:

1. Foundations of Synthetic Biology

  • Determinism and boundaries in the Biosciences: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Genetics, Genomics.
  • What is and what is not Synthetic Biology? Examples.
  • Historical perspective.

2. Biological Complexity

  • Modularity, hierarchy, emergence, computation.
  • Criticality in biological systems: evolvability, adaptability, robustness.
  • Homeostasis, plasticity, and biological evolution — aspects to consider.
  • Modeling and simulation: control, chaos, cybernetics, cellular automata.
  • Engineering vs directed evolution: the case of artificial enzymes.

3. Synthetic Biology Tools

  • Genetic vectors
  • Cloning
  • Transformation
  • Assembly methods
  • Next-generation sequencing
  • CRISPR-Cas9

4. Examples of Synthetic Biology

  • The iGEM competition
  • Examples in bacteria
  • Examples in yeast
  • Examples in plants
  • Examples in viruses

5. Current Context

  • Disruptive approaches in the Biosciences: DIY-Bio, biohacking, bioart.

Participants

The course received the participation of nine students from different academic units of the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM). All participants were pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate studies in biology-related fields.

  • Registration for the course was open through iGEM UAM’s social media platforms.
  • Some participants received financial support from the UAM to pay part of the fee, while others covered the full registration fee of MXN 2,000.00.

This diversity in backgrounds and academic levels enriched the discussions and facilitated an exchange of perspectives around synthetic biology and its applications.

Course Development

  • June 20th – First Session.

    The course began with a formal introduction, during which students presented themselves and shared their academic interests. The instructor introduced the main concepts of synthetic biology, highlighting its foundations, scope, and historical development. An overview of the iGEM competition was also provided, situating the course within a broader educational and research context. The slides that were used in the course are provided in the next link: DNA Workshop: Editing and Transformation Additionally, students were guided through the laboratory facilities to become familiar with the equipment and biosafety practices that would be applied during subsequent sessions.

  • Image 1. Theorical class in the first session. June 21st – Second Session

    The second day was focused on laboratory practice. Under supervision, the students performed a bacterial transformation in Escherichia coli. This experiment gave participants the opportunity to apply theoretical concepts introduced during the first session and gain practical experience with a fundamental technique in synthetic biology.

  • June 28th – Third Session

    The third session combined theoretical and experimental learning. Students were introduced to synthetic biology tools, with a particular emphasis on genetic vectors and their applications in molecular cloning and expression systems. In the laboratory, they reinforced these concepts by engaging with practical techniques used to manipulate vectors.

  • June 29th – Fourth Session

    The final session emphasized the integration of computational and experimental approaches. Students learned to use bioinformatics applications to design and build genetic vectors, highlighting the importance of digital tools in modern biotechnology. To conclude the course, they attended guest lectures delivered by Dr. Roberto Olivares, who is an advisor of the iGEM UAM team. The IGEM UAM team also gave a talk to present the project they were developing and the objective they were seeking to achieve. This closing day underscored the interdisciplinary nature of the field and its potential societal impact.

Conclusions

The Openlab course provided participants with a comprehensive introduction to synthetic biology, combining theory, laboratory practice, and computational approaches. Students acquired first-hand experience in fundamental techniques such as E. coli transformation, explored the use of genetic vectors, and learned to implement software tools for vector design.

The inclusion of external lectures by Dr. Roberto Olivares enriched the program by offering professional insights into the current landscape of synthetic biology.

Through this initiative, iGEM UAM and Openlab reaffirmed their commitment to promoting interdisciplinary education, practical training, and the democratization of scientific knowledge, while fostering a new generation of researchers prepared to address future challenges in the biosciences.