International Day for Biological Diversity: Are you part of the solution?
by Linda Kahl
May 22 is the International Day for Biological Diversity. First observed by the UN General Assembly in 1993, this day recognizes that biodiversity is the foundation for several sustainable development challenges. In honor of this day, we’d like to highlight the accomplishments of some of the iGEM 2020 teams engineering biological solutions to restore and preserve biodiversity.
“I see a future in which nature gives us a helping hand. Instead of destroying the natural world, why can’t we use it to solve the kinds of problems that we are facing?”
iGEM’s customized biodiversity day logo - Make your own!
Seeking to restore and protect the Great Barrier Reef, a biologically diverse ecosystem located off the coast of Queensland, team UNSW_Australia (Australia) engineered thermo-tolerant microalgal symbionts to prevent bleaching of coral hosts. Winner Best Integrated Human Practices, Winner Best Education, Nominee Best Environmental Project, Nominee Best New Basic Part, Nominee Best Presentation, Gold Medalist, Undergrad Division.
Appreciating the importance of the biological soil crust in preventing biodiversity loss and land desertification, team XJTU-China (China) devised a co-cultivation system with cyanobacteria and Bacillus subtilis to defeat desertification by accelerating the process of natural evolution. Gold Medalist, Undergrad Division.
The biodiversity of Mexico's northern region is at risk due to frequent forest wildfires. Recognizing that foams used to combat wildfires contain fluorosurfactants that pose an environmental threat, team FCB-UANL (Mexico) devised a biological alternative based on proteins from a local frog species. Winner Best Supporting Entrepreneurship, Nominee Best Environmental Project, Gold Medalist, Undergrad Division.
Team MSP-Maastricht (Netherlands) engineered a biological and environmentally friendly insecticide against the Oak Processionary Caterpillar, a major invasive species threatening the abundance and diversity of native plants and animals in the oak ecosystems of Western and Northern Europe. Silver Medalist, Undergrad Division.
Aiming to preserve the biological diversity of native Pinus pinaster forests in the Mediterranean region, team NOVA_LxPortugal (Portugal) developed a biological model to combat Pine Wilt Disease caused by the deadly pest, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Silver Medalist, Overgrad Division.
Concerned about the damage to the European eel population caused by cocaine pollution, team CLS_CLSG_UK (United Kingdom) designed a system for immobilizing bacteria while allowing rapid breakdown of cocaine early in the wastewater treatment process. Nominee Inclusivity Award, Nominee Best Wiki, Nominee Best Poster, Nominee Best Presentation, Silver Medalist, High School Division.
Understanding the integral role of bees to maintaining biodiversity, team MichiganState (United States) designed an integrated system, including a probiotic and feeder, to protect bees from colony collapse disorder. Silver Medalist, Undergrad Division.
We are proud of the progress all iGEM teams have made in using synthetic biology to restore and preserve biodiversity around the world!
If you would like to join iGEM in addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we invite you to start an iGEM team for the 2021 season, become an iGEM partner or sponsor, or witness the accomplishments of the teams at the 2021 Giant Jamboree. We look forward to welcoming you to the iGEM community!
Cover image: by iGEM 2020 Team UNSW_Australia
Late Registration for the 2021 iGEM Competition is open until May 28, 2021.
Registration for the iGEM Design League, a new iGEM experience in Latin America, is open until June 15, 2021.
