Press Kit
From ung.igem.org
The International Genetically Engineered Machine competition (iGEM) is the premiere undergraduate Synthetic Biology competition. Student teams are given a kit of biological parts at the beginning of the summer from the Registry of Standard Biological Parts. Working at their own schools over the summer, they use these parts and new parts of their own design to build biological systems and operate them in living cells. This project design and competition format is an exceptionally motivating and effective teaching method.
iGEM began in January of 2003 with a month-long course during MIT's Independent Activities Period (IAP). The students designed biological systems to make cells blink. This design course grew to a summer competition with 5 teams in 2004, 13 teams in 2005 - the first year that the competition grew internationally, 32 teams in 2006, 54 teams in 2007, 84 teams in 2008, 112 teams in 2009, and 130 teams in 2010. Projects ranged from a rainbow of pigmented bacteria, to banana and wintergreen smelling bacteria, an arsenic biosensor, Bactoblood, and buoyant bacteria.
For iGEM 2011 we have 160 teams and over 2000 participants from 30 countries world-wide taking part in the competition. They will specify, design, build, and test simple biological systems made from standard, interchangeable biological parts. The accomplishments of these student teams during one summer are often impressive and will lead to important advances in medicine, energy, and the environment.
Due to iGEM's incredible growth the iGEM 2011 competition inaugurates a tiered structure, where teams will first compete in Regional Jamborees in their Region (Europe, Americas, or Asia) followed by a World Championship. The Europe Regional Jamboree was held in Amsterdam, Netherlands on October 1-2, with 50 teams from 17 countries. The Americas Regional Jamboree was held in Indianapolis, USA on October 8-10 and included 64 teams from 6 countries. The Asia Regional Jamboree was held in Hong Kong on October 15-16, with 46 teams attending from 7 countries.
A total of 65 teams from 22 countries have advanced to the iGEM 2011 World Championship Jamboree to be held at MIT in Cambridge, USA from November 5-7. The World Championship Jamboree will be an exciting culmination of all the effort these teams have put into their projects. A live webcast of the event will give these teams the opportunity to present their projects in front of a global audience.
In 2011, iGEM introduced a High School Division that will focus on finding ways for high school student teams to enjoy iGEM in ways that fit the schedules, resources, and structures available to high school teams. The first iGEM High School Division Jamboree was held in June of this year. The High School Division stands to become as successful and as innovative as the iGEM Collegiate Division. In addition, iGEM is introducing an Entrepreneurial division.
iGEM was conceived by two computer engineers and one civil engineer: Tom Knight, Randy Rettberg, and Drew Endy. Today, iGEM Headquarters is staffed by Randy Rettberg (President), Meagan Lizarazo (Vice President), and two technicians.
Note that the iGEM logo is copyrighted by iGEM and provided here for iGEM participants to help them promote iGEM and their iGEM team.
- iGEM stands for International Genetically Engineered Machine competition
- Over the course of a summer, students design and build simple biological systems made from standard interchangeable DNA parts
- iGEM began in 2003 initially as a course
- Growth: 5 teams in 2004, 13 teams in 2005, 32 teams in 2006, 54 teams in 2007, 84 teams in 2008, 112 teams in 2009, 130 teams in 2010, 160 teams in 2011
- 2005: first year of international teams
- 2011: first year of tiered iGEM competition with a separate Regional Jamboree preceding the World Championship Jamboree
- 2011 Europe Regional Jamboree: Oct 1-2 in Amsterdam, 50 teams, 17 countries
- 2011 Americas Regional Jamboree: Oct 8-10 in Indianapolis, 64 teams, 6 countries
- 2011 Asia Regional Jamboree: Oct 15-16 in Hong Kong, 46 teams, 7 countries
- 2011 World Championship Jamboree: Nov 5-7 in Cambridge, MA, 65 teams, 22 countries
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