Team:China Tongji/Outreach

This year, our team mainly focus on communicating with other iGEM teams and raising public awareness towards synthetic biology. Through our practice, we have learned more from each other and built sincere friendship among our team and other teams. Moreover, we promoted the public’s understanding of iGEM and our project.

1.1 Three Teams Communication Meeting 1 -- 2015.4.19

On April 19th, we went to Shanghai Jiaotong University to have a communication meeting .Three teams including SJTU-BioX-Shanghai, NJAU_China and Tongji have attended. In this meeting, we first introduced our project respectively. Then we raised some question and gave some advice on other teams projects. We not only considered these suggestions and perfected our projects but made friends with each other as well.

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1.2 Three Teams Communication Meeting 2 -- 2015.6.8

On Jun 8th we had a meet-up with NYU Shanghai, SJTU and a behalf from ITB, at NYU Shanghai. This culture-mixed gathering covered not only those topics on our projects, but exchanging of our daily experiences as well. After this happy meeting, we had a general understanding about each other’s idea and set up a long-term union for mutual assistance.

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1.3 Popularize Scientific Knowledge about Synthetic Biology -- 2015.6.22

On June 22nd,we had a class in Tongji primary school.

Firstly, we introduced iGEM and synthetic biology to them. Then, we briefly explained our project. We had adapted our project for a interesting story. So in this class, we showed them this story by PPT and our explanation. They were very interested about C.elegans and asked many questions about it.

After this class, these kids had more knowledges about synthetic biology and iGEM. We achieved our goal that popularizing scientific knowledge.

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1.4 Communication Meeting with SYSU-China -- 2015.7.11

On July 11st, we communicated with the captain of SYSU-China. We exchanged some problems and difficulties that we met in our experimental process. This led us to make a summing up of the experience and lessons.

We showed our logo and gave some advice to each other. What’s more, we talked about the construction of our wikis.

1.5 Exhibition at Shanghai Technology Museum -- 2015.8.8

On Aug 8th, with 6 other iGEM teams, we made an exhibition at Shanghai Technology Museum. We introduced our project and the iGEM competition to the people who visited the museum that day. More than 5000 people have seen our project, what’s more, we had a good communication with other teams about our projects!

Teams include: NYU-Shanghai, Tongji, FDU, SJTU, SJTU-software, XJTLU, ZJU.

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2. Collaboration

2.1 Collaboration with SJTU-BioX-Shanghai

-- Help them start their project

SJTU-BioX-Shanghai

2.1.1 Offer them special bacteria

The SJTU-BioX-Shanghai wants to use the bacterial luciferase in the Vibrio fischeri, and Professor Zhifen Lin in College of Environmental Science and Engineering in Tongji University has done a lot of research on Vibrio fischeri .So we help them to communicate with Professor Lin to give the SJTU-BioX-Shanghai some Vibrio fischerifor their project. And we also learn the using method including the culturing method, the molecular cloning method, then we teach the SJTU-BioX-Shanghai how to work with the strain and extract the bacterial luciferase.

2.1.2 Give some advises for their project

Our project is focus on Optogenetics and channelrhodopsins. At the meantime, the SJTU-BioX-Shanghai starts their project on halorhodopsin. Since our projects are all basing on the transmembrane rhodopsin, so we communicate a lot about our projects. The transmembrane rhodopsin needs the retinaldehyde(ATR) as its cofactor. However, SJTU-BioX-Shanghai didn’t know how to make the solution of ATR and prepare it for the culture medium of their algae. So we taught them the relevant experimental method and the mixture system.

2.2 Collaboration with SJTU-Software

-- Help them test and improve their software

SJTU-Software

2.2.1 How we collaborate with each other

SJTU-Software built up a multi-level biobrick evaluation and visualization system。Many existing biobricks are not well documented, which make it challenging to use them. They present a web-based tool BASE (Biobrick Auxiliary Selection Explorer) to search, evaluate and visualize biobricks at part, devise and system levels. Biobrick parts are scored according to their current status, user comments and reviews, times of citation and etc. At device level, features, such as the order of parts and the co-existence frequency of two parts in a device, are added into the scoring system. At each level, the biobricks can be searched, evaluated and ranked according to their scores.

We provide them with our parts using in this year’s project including not only the parts we submit ( BBa_K1634002, BBa_K1634003, BBa_K1634004, BBa_K1634007, BBa_K1634008 ) but also some parts which we constructed and used in our experiments such as ppD95.75_Pmyo3-chETA-EYFP. Then they use their software to score our parts. Finally, we compared the parts' characterization in our wet experiment with their output, and offered them some feedbacks to help them improve their scoring system.

The analysis result they give us:

“This year, TJU used the optogenetics technology to control the simple movement of nematodes. In the pathognosticmotoneuron and muscles of nematodes,the opsin will be expressed, which is a type of photosensitive channel protein that will be activated at a specific wavelength of light. Then it will stimulate some neurons and ultimately achieve the purpose of nematode movement control.

However, during the evaluation, we found that some of their biobricks are so new that we nearly couldn't find them in our database which covered the data in the iGEM official website. The result showed that those biobricks were never synthesized before.

Beyond that, we also found the regulator BBa_K1634003 is almost 80% similar to BBa_K309026 which is made by a team from Canada. This result might be used to compare the function of their biobricks with the other team; and explored more useful information from the alike one. ”

2.2.2 Feedback

Through this cooperation, we help them find advantages and disadvantages of their software.

Advantage:

They have focused their software on scoring the parts but ignored there is another strong function of their software, which is helping users to search for a similar or relative parts more efficiently, thus helps a lot for comparing and improving their parts. SJTU-Software starts pay more attention on this function and improve it.

Disadvantage:

During the evaluation, they found that our biobricks are so new that they couldn't find them in our database which covered the data in the iGEM official website. The result showed that those biobricks were never synthesized before. Then they couldn’t score our parts. Since most of the parts submitted by iGEM teams are new, we suggest them expanding their data source to cover more parts which can make it a more functional scoring system.

3. Questionare

3.1 Introduction

In order to know people' attitudes to iGEM ,Synthetic biology and Biology safety, we made this survey. From the result we have received, we get many useful information.

There are altogether 317 person filled in our questionnaire. Most of them(95.9%) come from all over China such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, etc. Some of them(4.1%) come from other countries such as Congo-Brazzaville, Australia and so on.

3.2 Questionare

China_Tongji’s questionnaire about iGEM and synthetic biology.

3.2.1 How old are you?

1. How old are you?
option	10-16 years old	17-22 years old	23-30 years old	More than 30 years old
317	4	155	39	119

People in different ages have filled in this questionnaire, which demonstrates that our research is significative. Most of them are teenagers from 17 to 22 years old. It shows that teenagers are more interested in iGEM.

3.2.2 What's your major (or the major you'd like to study)?

2. What's your major?
option	Biology	Science (beside Biology)	Engineering	Liberal arts
317	58	70	126	63

People in different majors have filled in this questionnaire, which demonstrates that our research is significative. So we can unite other majors people to join in iGEM in the future. What’s more, we might set up an organization to help other students learn more knowledges about iGEM.

3.2.3 Do you know iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition)

3. Do you know iGEM?
option	I had join in that!	I know it.	Only heard.	What's that?
317	11	19	108	179

It’s necessary to enhance people’ knowledge about iGEM, because there are more than 50% people said that they never heard iGEM before! Only 3.47% people have joined it.

3.2.4 What do you think of Synthetic biology? (Multiple-choice)

Synthetic biology is an interdisciplinary branch of biology, combining disciplines such as biotechnology, evolutionary biology, molecular biology, systems biology, biophysics, computer engineering, and genetic engineering.

Option	Subtotal	proportion
I know it well.	11	3.47%
Know something about it.	41	12.93%
Only heard.	134	42.27%
I don't know this.	99	31.23%
I support that.	143	45.11%
I worry about that.	44	13.88%
I object to such thing!	2	0.63%
The total number	317

4. What do you think of Synthetic biology?
option	I know it well.	Know something about it.	Only heard.	I don't know this.	I support that.	I worry about that.	I object to such thing！
317	11	41	134	99	143	44	2

This question is a multiple-choice question. Most people just hear about Synthetic biology or even don’t know it .However, most people hold a positive attitude to Synthetic biology and support it. So we can do more propagandas to help the people who hold the opposite attitude to Synthetic biology learn more about it.

3.2.5 For Synthetic biology, safety and science, which is the most important?

5. For Synthetic biology, safety and science, which is the most important?
option	Safety is more important.	They are equal important.	Who cares about safety?
317	201	112	4

Most people think that safety is more important than science. I agree with the choice, for doing scientific research should base on safe condition. However, safety and sience are not contradictory. The researchers should deal with the relationship between science and safety appropriately.

3.2.6 Rank the options below by the safety level that you think.

Option	Average score
Follow the rules in lab.	5.62
Mine safety training to the students.	4.66
Keep experiment materials only in lab.	4.31
Biology rubbish grading.	4.28
Specialty company deal the Biology rubbish.	3.61
Insist aseptic operation.	3.39
Do propaganda and education work about Biology safety.	2.42
incineration or buryed.	0.8
Others.	0.36

The higher the score ranks, the more important people think the aspect is. They think “Follow the rules in lab” and “Mine safety training to the students”are the most important. These shows that people may know something about the rules in lab, but we still should supervise them to obey it.

3.2.7 What do you think of transgenosis?

7. What do you think of transgenosis?
option	It can makes our life be better.	They may create a devil!	There are both advantages and disadvantages.
317	136	27	154

Only a few people think transgenosis is a vicious thing. Most people think it has both advantages and disadvantages, we should adopt its good points and avoid its shortcomings.

3.2.8 Do you think Synthetic biology is useful?

8. Do you think Synthetic biology is useful?
option	Sure! It have broad prospects.	It is hard to apply.	I don't think they can success.
317	217	90	10

Most people think Synthetic biology is of great significance. We can create many interesting parts which others never build before. We hope our research could be applied in medical or producing fields.

3.3 Analyses

Chart 3-1: Relationship of the major and the knowledge about iGEM

From this chart, we can see that people who major in Biology, Science and Engineering know iGEM better.

Chart 3-2: the opinions people hold about synthetic biology of different ages

Through this chart, we find that the youth always hold more possitive opinions to Synthetic biology comparing to the elders.

3.4 Conclusion

From these results, we come to a conclusion that the popularity of iGEM has been larger day by day. But it’s still necessary for us to introduce iGEM and Synthetic biology to the public who know nothing about it, and that is what we are doing now.

What make us excited is that almost everyone have a strong awareness of Biology safety, thus we will pay more attention to safety in our future experiments.

What is particularly worth mentioning is most of them hold positive attitudes to Synthetic biology, which encourages us a lot.