Mississippi State University 2006

The Team

Faculty Members:

Dr. Filip To, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Dr. Bob Reese, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Dr. Tod French, Chemical Engineering

Dr. Din-Po Ma, Bio Chemistry

Students:

Lauren Beatty - Undergraduate, incoming junior, Biological Engineering

Robert Morris - BS in Biological Engineering

Max Mauldin - High school, Mississippi School of Mathematics and Science

Justin Mackay - High school, Mississippi School of Mathematics and Science

Introduction

• International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) is a student-led competition to build the most innovative "machine" by synthetic biology.
• Headquarters is located at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
• In 2006, 40 schools and over 400 students from around the world are participating in projects to construct biologically engineered systems.
• Task of each team is to apply engineering methodology to design and develop a new biological system ("machine") through the use of existing and/or newly formed microscopic biological parts (termed BioBricks).
• Type of the "machine" is chosen by each individual school participating, and the only criterion is that the "machine" be made entirely of the functional units of DNA called BioBricks.
• A registry of all BioBricks is kept in the MIT Registry of Standard Biological Parts, which is regularly updated to include new parts developed by teams.
• Parts for each iGEM team are obtained through the Registry for a fee.
• Jamboree for students to present their projects will take place at MIT in November.