All in iGEM Blog

2024: A Stellar Year for the iGEM Space Initiative

2024 witnessed a number of space happenings – from meteor showers, supermoons and the heightened visibility of the aurora borealis, to colossal rocket launches, planetary missions, the first commercial spacewalk and the first sample return from the lunar far side. Yet, among the most exciting space happenings were the accomplishments of the iGEM Space Initiative. 

Empowering genetic designers to build the future

Asimov has teamed up with iGEM once again to empower the genetic designers who are building the future – you – the iGEMers who are building new solutions with biology for the 2024 Competition. As a platinum partner for 2024, we are thrilled to give back to the community that has helped inspire, support, and connect students with each other to make synthetic biology the technology that will transform the world.

The role of Commercial Team Organizing Entities (CTOEs) for High School iGEM teams

Over the years, different organizational structures have emerged to overcome some of the challenges that are unique to high school teams. In the early years, most high school teams were organized by the high schools themselves or by community labs. In 2020, it came to our attention some high school iGEM teams were being organized by third-party institutions that were building teams for high schools that did not have access to laboratory facilities and/or for high school students who did not have an iGEM program at their own school.

Last chance to become an iGEM Judge for 2024!

Right now, the world is excitedly watching the Summer Olympics taking place in Paris. For some, the Olympics offer a glimpse of impressive athletes and teams who have committed to their sport to compete at the highest level. In October, there will be another Olympics (of sorts) in Paris, where the participants are no less impressive and no less committed – the iGEM 2024 Grand Jamboree – the World Expo of synthetic biology and the culminating event of the iGEM Competition. 

Could Gregor Mendel have imagined the future of synthetic biology?

In just a few days, we will celebrate the birth of Gregor Johann Mendel, considered the father of modern genetics. Mendel found that each of the traits he studied were inherited as discrete units rather than blended together at each new generation. Those discrete units of inheritance are now known as “genes”, which are made up of sequences of DNA. Today, over two hundred years later, iGEM teams from around the world are engineering sequences of DNA in ways Mendel would never have dreamed – designing, building and testing biological systems to tackle everyday issues facing the world.

The unique challenges of high school iGEM teams

Last year was a banner year for high schools in iGEM, with 119 teams participating, each experiencing the joys, frustrations, challenges, and rewards that come from working on an iGEM project. High school teams have been a part of iGEM since 2011, and their numbers have been growing ever since. Yet, because the iGEM Competition was originally designed for collegiate teams, high school teams have been in a perpetual state of experimentation as the elements and format of competition have been adapted to meet the unique challenges of high school teams. This post is the second of a series where we focus on high school teams in iGEM.

Conquering Cancer with Synthetic Biology

Imagine a future where most cancers are prevented or even cured, where there is universal access to early detection and treatment, and where most (all?) cancer patients can expect to live cancer-free without trading the quality of life for length of life. At iGEM, teams are working to create such a future using the tools of synthetic biology. Check out these examples.

Revolutionizing the fashion and cosmetics industries with synthetic biology

The future of the fashion and cosmetics industries may well lie in the hands of the future leaders of synthetic biology. These consumer-driven industries touch the lives of almost everyone on earth, but they also use massive amounts of raw materials and have an immense negative impact on the environment. At iGEM, teams are using synthetic biology to help move the fashion and cosmetics industries into a new, more sustainable, and animal cruelty-free era. Here are just a few examples of iGEM team projects that could usher in the next revolution in fashion and cosmetics.

Reaching for the Stars, Improving Life on Earth: The Promise of Synthetic Biology in Space

Have you ever worked on a laptop computer? (perhaps you are reading this post on a laptop right now?) Have you ever used a cell phone to take a picture? Or get directions using your GPS? Have you ever had your temperature taken in your ear? Or lived in a home with a smoke detector? Or rested your head on a memory foam pillow? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you are the beneficiary of space innovation!

New Villages for 2024: Fashion & Cosmetics, Oncology, and Infectious Diseases

Villages represent the global challenges that iGEMers are most interested in working on, and the solutions that iGEM teams put forth reflect the future of synthetic biology. In keeping with the changing needs of synthetic biology and the interests of the teams, iGEM Villages are constantly evolving. This year, we are introducing three new Villages: : Fashion & Cosmetics, Oncology, and Infectious Diseases.

iGEMers as agents of change for gender equity in STEM

Change happens when people learn about a problematic situation, and assume personal responsibility for acting to correct the situation. iGEM teams do this all the time as they seek to make positive change by addressing problems facing our world using the tools of synthetic biology. But the changes iGEMers seek to make are not solely changes that come about by developing new technologies, they are also changes within our own and the greater synthetic biology community.