Team:SJTU-software/Contribution
Overview
The previous iGEM projects proposed a strategy for controlling rice blast by genetic technology. We thought this was a good inspiration and could be applied to all kinds of rice cultivation adversity. In communication with synthetic biology researchers, it was lucky to find this need clarified. We designed RISS, which maked it possible to input a gene associated with a resistance trait and then screened out all the genes associated with it. We proposed a new idea for researchers engaged in gene editing technology: for genes that are difficult to edit directly, we can start with related genes. We have also developed virtual labs, synthetic biology games, and middle school students' courses to help more people learn about iGEM.
Database and tools
Our database could be divided into two parts: information of genes and the other is about samples.
Our team members searched and collected some stress resistance genes and gene families from papers on rice stress resistance. Our team created Gene Annotation table, Sequence table, and Gene & Phenotype table according to these genes and gene families. Our team also used these data to create new tables with the GES algorithm, FR algorithm, K-means algorithm, and mean-shift algorithm.
Researchers can search pan-genome gene annotation and sequence or they can find the relationship between these genes or samples.
Inspiration
Our project solved one part of the grand synthetic biology problem of "high yield line breeding through gene editing", that was, screening out the genes associated with a known gene to provide reference for subsequent research. Our project is a valuable inspiration, because subsequent research teams can introduce downstream transcriptional and translational information analysis functions on this basis. It can also further expand the range of species to achieve further refinement and improvement. We think it will have a good development prospect in the future.
Game
To promote synthetic biology and iGEM to the public, we have developed a virtual experimental game and a puzzle synthetic biology "2048" game. Players can learn basic life science theories in these games and learn some basic knowledge about synthetic biology. In the virtual experimental game, the key to the experiment's success is to use the basic knowledge to carry out the experiment correctly and achieve the experimental purpose. In practical human practices, students first learned knowledge and further consolidated the knowledge in the game.
Course
In Xining's human practice, we have developed a wealth of courses for middle school students in western China, including the popularization of knowledge of iGEM and synthetic biology, as well as the application of genetic engineering in biology. Considering the impact of Covid-19, we have also taught specifically about viral infection mechanism and how to prevent infection. In addition to experiential games, we believed that instructional education could improve the public's understanding and recognition of synthetic biology more effectively.
