From point to line to plane

it is not only a geographical expansion but also a journey of understanding.

During the initial exploratory phase of the project, we recognized that achieving breakthroughs through our own efforts alone would be challenging. Therefore, we actively sought collaboration and exchange with other universities, hoping that cross-disciplinary dialogue would spark innovative ideas.

We first established a partnership with LZU-China. Two teams from Northwest China, driven by their passion for synthetic biology and determination to tackle industrial challenges, engaged in profound exchanges and discussions. These intense debates laid the groundwork for subsequent rounds of discussions.

Reflections and Insights Gained from Multiple Exchange Discussions with Lanzhou University

1. Establishing our first exchange and collaboration with another university

2. Recognizing the rapid pace of global environmental change

3. How to better build and strengthen our team

4. Learning from the competition experience of Lanzhou University's team in previous years

Meeting Minutes: The project by the Lanzhou University team addresses microbial damage to murals, a major challenge in cultural heritage preservation. This damage causes issues such as surface flaking and mineral pigment degradation, severely impacting the conservation and display of cultural heritage. While existing physical and chemical methods offer some effectiveness, they pose risks to the environment or the murals themselves, making it difficult to achieve long-term, effective protection.

We engaged in in-depth discussions on technical issues including the isolation and screening of extremophile microorganisms, plasmid extraction and sequencing, and functional gene identification. The team from Lanzhou University shared their experience and methodologies in studying microorganisms causing mural diseases, providing us with valuable technical support. Simultaneously, we introduced them to the overall concept and preliminary progress of our project.

A team from Lanzhou University has provided a detailed analysis of how climate issues in Northwest China affect murals. The region's climate change is complex, with ongoing debate over whether it is warming and moistening or warming and drying. Further research is needed on how changes in precipitation and evaporation impact cultural relics. In recent years, the region has exhibited a transition from a warm-dry to a warm-wet climate, though this shift is unevenly distributed, with significant variations across different areas and seasons. Overall temperatures have risen markedly, with pronounced seasonal differences, where winter warming contributes most significantly to the warming trend in arid zones. Precipitation shows an overall upward trend, most pronounced during summer, but its spatial distribution is uneven. Some areas experience substantial increases, while others see minimal gains or even decreases.

These complex climate patterns pose multiple challenges to cultural heritage preservation. On one hand, increased precipitation may elevate environmental humidity around artifacts, accelerating the onset and progression of deterioration processes like weathering and erosion. On the other hand, rising temperatures may accelerate material degradation, compromising structural integrity. Extreme weather events (such as heavy rainfall and mudslides) pose an even greater direct threat to cultural heritage preservation, necessitating enhanced monitoring and early warning systems. As climate change intensifies, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events—including torrential rains, floods, and mudslides—have increased. The damage inflicted by these extreme events on cultural relics is often catastrophic, including the destruction of archaeological sites and the flooding of museums. Therefore, strengthening the development of monitoring and early warning systems is crucial. By continuously tracking meteorological data and geological hazard risks, protective measures can be implemented in advance to minimize the damage caused by extreme weather events to cultural relics.

In this background statement from Lanzhou University, we have gained a deeper understanding of the significant global climate changes caused by factors such as rising carbon dioxide concentrations. Contemporary green and low-carbon initiatives are urgently needed. We have also described the unique role our project plays on this green path. Through our research on existing microbial fermentation plants, we observed that these facilities are greener and more environmentally friendly than traditional chemical plants. Multiple institutions predict boundless potential for microbial factories, with several countries already implementing supportive policies. However, we also recognize that reality is rarely smooth sailing. Energy consumption during fermentation accounts for 60% of the entire process, primarily concentrated in temperature control, agitation, and aeration. Optimizing and improving this stage is key to making microbial factories greener and lower-carbon. Our exploration of microbial plasmids in extreme environments aims to achieve the most fundamental optimization for this stage—enhancing chassis strains.

Regarding team building, both parties discussed establishing a formal team management structure versus the traditional mentor-student model, which often involves members joining and leaving for various reasons. The advantages of a team management structure include better resource integration, talent cultivation, and knowledge transfer, while the traditional model offers greater stability and specialization. Ultimately, both sides unanimously agreed on the necessity of establishing a synthetic biology society.

Through multiple exchanges, both parties mutually inspired each other and collaboratively refined the research plan.

Additionally, we conducted project exchanges and discussions with the team from BIT-China.

Key Insights and Takeaways from This Exchange

1. Gained a more intuitive understanding of the project's chosen track

2. Identified feasible directions for the upcoming wet lab phase

3. Established communication channels with universities outside Northwest China

Meeting Minutes: The BIT-China team selected the Fashion & Cosmetics track. Against the backdrop of abundant modern personalization demands, the need for customized solutions continues to grow. The BIT-China team's project focuses on modifying bacterial strains through synthetic biology to produce pigments on silk—a fabric notoriously difficult to dye and retain color. By enabling light-controlled regulation of these strains, we achieve simpler personalized customization to meet public demand. This distinct track direction provided us with a fresh perspective on track selection and further broadened our understanding of synthetic biology's application prospects. We sought insights from this team with years of competition experience. They emphasized that projects in the Biomanufacturing track must be factory-ready, prompting us to recognize the need for greater rigor and diligence in validating and comparing wet-lab experiments

On July 16, 2025, we participated in the “ 2025 Western Region iGEM Exchange Conference,” hosted by the School of Life Sciences and Medicine and the School of Life Sciences at Northwestern Polytechnical University, and organized by the iGEM Organizing Committee of the School of Life Sciences. Centered on the theme “ Synthesizing the Future,” this conference brought together iGEM teams from multiple universities across the western region, aiming to foster academic exchange and practical innovation in synthetic biology. The diverse research perspectives and technical strengths showcased by different institutions broadened our horizons and provided valuable insights for advancing our project.

At this large-scale exchange meeting, we gained valuable insights and achievements:

1. We established connections with most universities in Northwest China.

2. We gained a deeper understanding of the necessity for natural plasmid mining.

3. The complex task of gene mining requires simpler and faster methods.

Meeting Minutes: At the outset, a faculty representative from Northwestern Polytechnical University delivered an opening address, emphasizing the pivotal role of synthetic biology in driving technological innovation and industrial advancement, as well as the necessity of strengthening inter-university collaboration and exchange. Subsequently, teams from various universities presented their projects in sequence, each showcasing innovative thinking and robust research capabilities.

Northwestern Polytechnical University's “Total Biosynthesis of Boswellic Acid Using Pichia pastoris” project achieved full biological synthesis of boswellic acid through genetic engineering modifications to Pichia pastoris. Compared to traditional chemical synthesis methods, this approach is more environmentally friendly and reduces production costs, demonstrating broad application prospects. Northwest University's “Collagen Bio-manufacturing Project Targeting DDRs” designed collagen tailored for DDRs (Disc-like Domain Receptors), offering novel solutions for tissue repair and regeneration in precision medicine. Yan'an University's “Visual Detection Technology for Pseudomonas aeruginosa” developed a rapid, sensitive method for monitoring Pseudomonas aeruginosa in environmental settings, providing a new tool for environmental protection.

Xi'an Jiaotong University's “AI-Assisted Enzyme Design for Intelligent Screening of D-Allulose-3-Epimerase” utilizes artificial intelligence to enhance enzyme design and screening, significantly improving industrial enzyme application efficiency and offering new insights for intelligent industrial biotechnology development; Lanzhou University's “Microbial Pigment Mining from Murals Project” explores pigments with unique functions derived from microorganisms within murals, opening new research avenues for cultural heritage preservation and restoration. Air Force Medical University's “Tao Tie Macrophage Therapy Project” innovatively integrates traditional cultural elements with modern medicine to engineer macrophages with specific functions, offering novel therapeutic strategies for disease treatment.

During the project showcase session, our team presented the progress of the SILK project to attendees, highlighting our work on identifying microbial plasmids in the extreme environments of Xinjiang. In the subsequent open discussion, we engaged in lively exchanges with teams from various universities on the topic of natural plasmid discovery. Everyone shared their perspectives, exchanging experiences and challenges encountered in plasmid research. Simultaneously, we debated the necessity of natural gene banks. Some teams argued that establishing such repositories demands substantial human, material, and financial resources, with limited short-term economic returns. In contrast, our team and others maintained that natural gene banks form a crucial foundation for synthetic biology research. Rich in genetic resources, they support the discovery and utilization of functional genes, playing a vital role in advancing the long-term development of synthetic biology. Through this debate, all teams gained a deeper understanding of the necessity to expand natural plasmid gene banks. They also recognized that as synthetic biology advances toward industrialization, it must prioritize green and environmental considerations. Only by achieving a balance between economic and environmental benefits can the sustainable development of the synthetic biology industry be promoted.

On August 2, 2025, we attended the 11th National Symposium on Microbial Genetics. This symposium brought together leading experts and scholars in China's microbial genetics field, who engaged in in-depth discussions and exchanges on cutting-edge topics such as microbial genetic mechanisms, gene expression regulation, and the interactions between microorganisms and their environment.

During the conference, presentations by multiple experts proved highly enlightening. One expert highlighted challenges in mass industrial production, reinforcing the scientific value of our project. Another shared case studies on applying microbial genetics in agriculture, medicine, and environmental fields, offering insights for expanding our project's application scenarios. Attending this symposium provided us with a more comprehensive understanding of other potential applications for the SILK project and sparked new inspiration for its future research directions.

On August 6, 2025, we traveled to the Exhibition and Trading Center of the Zhongguancun National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone in Beijing to participate in the 12th CCiC (China Conference on Genetic Engineering Machines) & the 2nd Synbiopunk Global Bio-Developer Conference. This gathering brought together innovative forces from the global synthetic biology community. On this vibrant and diverse stage, we not only showcased our project but, more importantly, gained valuable insights into its shortcomings and areas for improvement through exchanges with experts, scholars, corporate representatives, and peer teams from around the world.

At this large-scale exchange event, we gained valuable insights and takeaways:

1. A deeper understanding of the collision between AI and nature in the era of big data.

2. The convenience automation brings to biological research.

3. The importance of prioritizing action in pursuing green and low-carbon initiatives.

Meeting Minutes: At the opening ceremony, Mr. Jiang Shan, Co-founder of Little Panda Bio, reviewed the development journey of CCiC. He noted that since its inception, CCiC has consistently dedicated itself to providing a platform for exchange and collaboration among researchers and entrepreneurs in China's synthetic biology field, driving the innovative development of synthetic biology in China. He also emphasized the mission of CCiC and Synbiopunk in China's synthetic biology innovation—facilitating the transformation of scientific research outcomes, promoting industrial upgrading, and injecting new vitality into the advancement of synthetic biology.

Following this, Dr. Guo Haotian delivered a presentation on contemporary approaches to biological research. Drawing from his own research focus, he introduced various emerging techniques and methodologies in biological science, such as novel methods for collecting protein products. These insights opened our minds to new approaches in microbial experimentation, highlighting the potential to integrate more advanced technologies into project research to enhance efficiency and accuracy.

Dr. Feng Chao from Danaher Life Sciences presented “High-Throughput Automation Ushering in the Era of ‘Intelligent Creation’ in Synthetic Biology,” sharing Danaher's systematic solutions and practical case studies in synthetic biology. She detailed the application of Danaher's high-throughput screening platforms and automated liquid handling systems in synthetic biology research. These tools enable rapid screening and analysis of large microbial sample populations, significantly boosting research efficiency. This aligns perfectly with our project's need for high-throughput screening of natural strains containing plasmids, offering fresh perspectives to address inefficiencies in our screening process.

During the conference, we listened to presentations from multiple iGEM teams, each demonstrating formidable capabilities. Among them, the teams addressing the Climate Crisis left a profound impression. Their narratives deepened our understanding of green and low-carbon initiatives, reinforcing the critical importance of taking action for a sustainable future. Our team then engaged in an in-depth exchange with representatives from Beckman Coulter. With extensive experience and advanced technology in automated workstations, we consulted them on challenges in microbiological research, such as sample processing accuracy and equipment stability. Representatives from Beckman Coulter provided detailed explanations of their solutions to these challenges, including optimizing equipment mechanical structures and developing advanced software algorithms. This exchange offered new insights into how to better reduce manual labor and enhance experimental automation levels, while also providing valuable references for improving the operational procedures of automated equipment introduced into our project.

Over the next two days, we actively participated in multiple dialogues and discussions. Among them, Professor Ariel Lindner highlighted the growing applications of synthetic biology in industrial manufacturing, such as biopharmaceuticals and new materials. Using specific case studies, he analyzed the advantages of synthetic biology in enhancing product quality, reducing production costs, and minimizing environmental pollution. At the same time, he pointed out that as synthetic biology advances toward industrial applications, challenges such as technical maturity and scaling up production must be addressed.

Through these exchanges and discussions, we distilled three key insights crucial for project development:

AI Applications in Biology for the New Era: Artificial intelligence technologies enable rapid analysis of vast genetic sequence data, prediction of gene functions, and design of optimized experimental protocols, significantly boosting research efficiency and accuracy. Moving forward, we can apply AI to predict and screen plasmid functions, accelerating project progress.

Automation's Catalytic Role in Biological Inquiry: Automated equipment standardizes and streamlines experimental processes, minimizes human error, and frees up labor resources. Integrating automated workstations and similar devices will enhance our screening efficiency for natural strains containing plasmids, providing essential support for scaling up project research.

The Importance of Environmental Sustainability: Throughout synthetic biology research and applications, environmental sustainability must be prioritized. While our project aims to address industrial fermentation challenges and reduce production costs, we must also focus on minimizing environmental pollution during fermentation. Developing eco-friendly fermentation processes is essential for achieving sustainable industrial development.

From point to line to plane—it is precisely these individual points that connect to form lines, and these lines have now broadened into planes. Much like the ancient Silk Road forged step by step, its ultimate influence has spread across the world.