We are extremely proud to announce that our students, as part of the HK Joint School team, have achieved outstanding results at the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Grand Jamboree. Held in Paris, France, from 28 to 31 October, the event is the world's most prestigious synthetic biology competition.
Competing against prestigious high school teams from around the globe, the HK Joint School team was awarded a Gold Medal and was named one of the World Top 10 in the high school division.
The team's project also received several major accolades in high school division, including:
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World Top 5 for Best Model
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World Top 2 for Best Software Tool
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World Top 5 for Best Village Project
Our school’s team members, Chan Ming Yan, Chin Sze Tung, Lam Shing Chun, Law Sze Yuen, Leung Wang Ho, Li Yin Kang Samuel and Yu Ka Yu, were primarily responsible for the project's modeling work. Their work involved advanced computational biology to validate the project's design before laboratory work began. Using molecular dynamics simulations, they successfully predicted how the team's custom-designed RNA molecule would fold, bind to target pesticides, and trigger the biosensor's detection mechanism. This critical “dry-lab” work proved the project's feasibility and was recognised as one of the top 5 models in the world.
The HK Joint School team’s project, “PestiGuard”, centered on addressing the pressing global issue of pesticide contamination in crops. Conventional testing methods are often expensive. Through advanced synthetic biology, the team designed, built, and tested a novel, low-cost biosensor system. They engineered bacteria to produce a RNA aptamer that, upon binding to pesticide residue, suppresses a fluorescent signal. This provides farmers with an affordable and accessible way to detect contamination and ensure food safety.
The iGEM Competition, established by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2004, is an annual, worldwide event that challenges students to use synthetic biology to solve real-world problems. This year's Grand Jamboree brought together thousands of students to present their work and collaborate.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to our students for their hard work, ingenuity, and dedication to scientific research. Their success is a remarkable achievement, and we are incredibly proud of their contribution to this international success. We would also like to thank the teachers and mentors who guided them throughout this challenging journey.
For more details about the project, please visit:
https://2025.igem.wiki/hk-joint-school/
Media coverage:
香港文匯報
