Impact/Global-Challenges

International Genetically Engineered Machine

ABOUT

• What is iGEM?
• Values
• Vision
• People
• Staff
• Committees
• Leadership
• Contact

PROGRAMS

• iGEM Competition
• 2021 ⇗
• Previous Competitions
• Team List
• Facets of iGEM
• High School
• Parts Registry
• Labs Program
• After iGEM
• Ambassador Program
• Delegate Program
• Representative Program
• Mentorship Program
• After iGEM Committees
• Entrepreneurship
• Giant Jamboree ⇗

IMPACT

• Synthetic Biology
• Biosafety & Biosecurity
• Human Practices
• Startups
• Speaking Engagements

COMMUNITY

• News
• iGEM Blog ⇗
• Video Universe ⇗
• Podcast ⇗
• Newsletters
• Resources

SUPPORT iGEM

• Donate
• Sponsor Opportunities
• iGEM Sponsors

PRESS

• Press Kit
• Press Releases
• iGEM in the News
• Participant PR Toolkit

iGEM Foundation

The International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of synthetic biology, education and competition, and the development of an open community and collaboration.

Tackling Global Challenges

iGEM challenges teams to solve a problem using synthetic biology. Any problem!

At iGEM, teams choose their own project. Teams are not given specific problems to solve, instead they are given the space to use synthetic biology to tackle problems however they see fit. As a result, iGEM has become a natural test-bed for new ideas and approaches in synthetic biology across industries.

Competition Tracks

iGEM categorizes subject areas as tracks. Here are some examples of teams addressing global challenges across tracks

Diagnostics

INSA-Lyon 2016

Gotta Detect 'Em All: a multi-STI sensor based on aptamers

Aim: provide an all-in-one detection device for diagnosis of HIV and Hepatitis B

Energy

Nanjing 2016

HydroMagic

Aim: harness solar energy to drive whole-cell hydrogen production in air conditioners

Environment

Peking 2016

Uranium Reaper

Aim: address uranium pollution by constructing a novel biological material that absorbs the radioactive hazard

Food and Nutrition

Sydney Australia 2016

FRES(H)

Aim: create a biosensor sticker to test ripeness of fruit by detecting ethylene levels

Foundational Advance

Imperial College 2016

Ecolibrium - developing a framework for engineering co-cultures

Aim: engineer multi-cellular systems to ensured stable co-existence of different cell types in co-culture

Information Processing

EPFL 2016

IntelliGene

Aim: regulate gene transcription by developing an innovative CRISPR-DCas9 system in yeast

Manufacturing

LMU-TUM_Munich 2016

biotINK - rethINK tissue printing

Aim: rethINK tissue printing by creating a novel bio-ink for 3-D multi-cellular structures

New Application

TU Delft 2016

The new age of optics: Creating biological lenses and lasers to improve imaging techniques

Aim: make biological micro lenses and lasers

Therapeutics

SYSU-MEDICINE 2016

MSCavalry: MSCs of Next Generation

Aim: improve the efficiency of using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to treat inflammatory disease

Software

UESTC-Software 2018

BioMaster

Aim: Integrate 8 traditional biological research databases

Open

StanfordBrownSpelman 2014

Biosynthetic Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Aim: make a quad-copter out of biomaterials

High School

HSiTAIWAN 2016

Biosensor for Toxin in Chinese Herb Medicine

Aim: Create a series of cheap, user-friendly E. coli biosensor to detect certain poison in the Chinese herbal medicine

See More Project Examples

Check out iGEM team solutions to local and global problems, safeguarding efforts, public outreach and more here.

Want to learn more?

Learn about iGEM programs, projects and work beyond the competition here.