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The International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) competition is an interdisciplinary undergraduate synthetic biology experience in which teams of students design and build engineered biological systems that address pressing scientific or societal needs and interact with peers across the world.
Project Overview
The central aim of this project is to develop an integrated science and engineering research experience that spans the classroom, laboratory, and the wider world. Members brainstorm a novel project, receive wet lab training, and plan experimental procedures in the spring. The team conducts laboratory experiments and educational societal outreach over the summer and, in the fall, they present their projects, compete for awards, and share a welcoming global collaborative experience at the culminating annual iGEM Jamboree. Another central aspect of the iGEM experience is the focus on doing science in the context of our current society and the belief that we need to consider the ethical and societal consequences of our research. iGEM members create and implement local educational community outreach programs to foster scientific awareness, conversation, and enthusiasm for synthetic biology.
For many iGEM members, this program is the start of their research careers, and it helps to build foundational lab skills, confidence, and project management experience. iGEM is a unique semi-independent research experience where students have the opportunity to invest in a project of their own choosing and present their work to a board of international judges. The conference is an incredible chance to meet and network with peers around the world who are passionate about engineering biology. In 2017, there were more than 300 teams from 6 continents and 42 countries, and the team from Northwestern received a silver medal.
How You Can Help
By supporting our project, you will help purchase the materials needed to complete a novel biological engineering project to present at the 2018 iGEM Jamboree.
Thank you for allowing us to conduct meaningful research we can share with the Northwestern community and beyond!
We need to make DNA, and we need to make a lot of it. With your support, we can amplify DNA a million times in just a couple hours.
Great for all your micro-centrifuge tube-organizing needs. Seriously, someone keeps stealing mine.
It can encode a bright green protein, engender a new cell function, or possibly kill the cell. We have a lot of favorite genes, so every bit helps.
It’s hard to do science without any tools! The more tips we have, the more we can accomplish!
iGEM is all about creating new and exciting bio-machines! To do so, we need to clone and assemble new DNA! This can support the creation of 10 new constructs which can result in hundreds of new functions!
