The Uppsala SynBio hub

Purpose and goal:

This proposal aims to form Sweden’s first high school international Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) team at Uppsala Gymnasiet NTI. Also, to broaden the training and practical innovation to agriculture and sustainability, we aim to form the first iGEM team at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). Furthermore, together with the purchase of necessary equipment and the transfer of university knowledge to NTI and the non-profit Biohackeri, the goal is sustainable civil experimental activity in Uppsala via new iGEM teams and Biohackeri projects every year.

Expected results and effects:

The specific results will depend on the research projects chosen by the teams. But likely Agenda 2030 areas of impact include Zero hunger (goal 2) by SLU’s improved agriculture, Good health and well-being (goal 3) by Biohackeri’s ongoing human glucose monitoring study and Quality education (goal 4) by teaching SynBio methods to SLU & NTI students.

Approach and implementation:

First is lab training of NTI students at Uppsala University (UU). Then, UU will give guest lectures at NTI and Biohackeri while they obtain DNA-related equipment and licenses. Students, teachers and Biohackeri will also attend Uppsala iGEM’s project presentation rehearsal.

Biohackeri will then hold a public “hackathon”. During the spring of 2025, UU, SLU and NTI mentors and students and Biohackeri members will meet for brainstorming sessions to propose projects. Finally, practical SynBio projects will be initiated by these students and players in their home organizations.