Human Practices

The Background: In July, our team conducted a comprehensive social survey at Futian City of Books in Shenzhen, China, focusing on the mental health status of the local population.

Purpose: The point for doing this is because we want to get an idea of how serious the situation is, and we like to get an idea of not only the students' anxiety in our school but also people's anxiety in our society. We choose the largest City of Book in Shenzhen because there are mickle of students of our age (15-18) and parents that we can met, and they are our target group.

The questionnaire consisted of four key inquiries:

• Stress Level: Participants were asked to rate their stress level on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 indicating minimal stress and 10 representing extremely high stress.
• Physical Well-being: We inquired about common physical issues associated with stress, such as headaches or sleep disturbances.
• Awareness of Aromatherapy: We explored participants' familiarity with the concept of aromatherapy.
• Acceptance of Synthetic Algae-Based Scents: Participants were questioned about their willingness to embrace scents created using synthetic biology with algae.

Our survey successfully collected responses from 236 individuals, providing valuable insights into the mental well-being of Shenzhen's residents. The findings revealed a noteworthy pattern:

• High Stress Levels: The average stress rating among Shenzhen locals was notably high, averaging at 6.25 on our 1 to 10 scale. A significant portion of the population, approximately 70%, reported experiencing stress-related symptoms such as headaches, while 75% reported difficulties with sleep. An overwhelming 82% of respondents acknowledged feeling varying degrees of anxiety, strain, and pressure. These results underscore the prevalent issue of stress, particularly among students of all grades, in the Shenzhen community.
• Limited Awareness of Aromatherapy: Surprisingly, our survey indicated that aromatherapy, a known stress-relief technique, is relatively unknown in this demographic. A staggering 58% of respondents had never heard of the term "aromatherapy," and merely 5% were familiar with or had previously tried it.
• High Willingness to Explore Aromatherapy: Despite the lack of awareness, the data revealed a strong inclination toward trying or continuing with aromatherapy among participants. An impressive 98% of respondents expressed their willingness to explore this stress-relief method if given the opportunity.

Summary: Summary: These findings underscore a significant market opportunity for our product in China, where a considerable portion of the population grapples with stress and pressure. It also provided us with valuable information on the public preference for the kinds of aromas as well as direction for the choice of our synthesized molecules. Moreover, it highlights the potential for introducing aromatherapy as a means to address the prevalent mental health challenges faced by Chinese citizens.

Purpose: We wanted to measure the severity of anxiety and stress in China, especially within the teenager group (assumed as age 12-18), as well as the acceptability of our product if being produced.

Key Highlights:

1. 59% of the respondents do have issues with sleeping coherency or have a hard time sleeping.
2. 81% of the respondents have symptoms of anxiety, shockingly, up to 33% of them have chosen the option “Often”.
3. Up to 22% of them have rated their pressure of study/work at 7 out of 10, which is a very high rate of pressure.
4. After listening to our project description, an impressive 98% of respondents expressed their willingness to explore aromatherapy and our product if given the opportunity.

In our social survey, we collected 240 responses. 64% of all the responses are from middle school and high school teenagers. 59% of the respondents do have issues with sleeping coherency or have a hard time sleeping. 81% of the respondents have symptoms of anxiety, shockingly, up to 33% of them have chosen the option “Often”. Among the 240 serveys, the average stress level is 6.2, which is relatively high. Moreover, up to 52% of them have rated their pressure of study/work above 7, which is a very high rate of pressure.

Summary: Summary: From the results that came out of this survey, we can see that mental health problems faced by teenagers are a problem worthy of attention at this stage. It further encourages us to tackle this challenge with our project.

Purpose: Promoting IGEM is a very important thing. The society needs more people with great ideas to know IGEM, a channel that allows their ideas to make real contributions to society. As this being said, our team did presentations at all three of our schools about IGEM.

• BIPH Presentation (Park Lane Harbor): The presentation was designed and delivered through the collaborative effort of our BIPH team members and our project instructors. We had an audience of around 30 students for the four parts of the activity: presentation on synthetic biology, Q&A, lab experiment of algae beads, and survey.
• BBSZ Presentation (Shenzhen): To further expand on promotion of synthetic biology, our team made presentation that introduce the students to the intriguing world of iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) and the fascinating realm of synthetic biology. We then delved into the core of our project, which revolves around the innovative production of fragrances using cellular factories. Taking lessons and improving on the inefficiencies of previous presentations, our team extended the time for lab work and Q&A, and modified the PPT.
• BISZ Presentation (Shenzhen): Our presentation lacked more involvement to the professional aspect of biology, thus the communication at BISZ come in. In BISZ, our team members interacted with the former IGEM members of LINKS-CHINA and AIS, and communicated on the possible ways to achieve this project. This communication brought valuable opinions as we traded opinion and ideas on each others' iGEM project over magnitudes of HP, Chassis, and chemical pathways. Additionally, we cooperated with the pre-med club of BISZ, showing them our promotion and PCR video, displaying synthetic biology to more people.

Summary: Our team had the privilege of delivering a comprehensive presentation at various BASIS schools in China, and we were fortunate to have our biology teacher support us throughout the event. We engaged an audience of over 30 enthusiastic students every time, and we delivered intriguing content consisting of four distinct segments: a presentation, a Q&A session, a captivating laboratory experiment, and an engaging survey. This experience further promoted us on expanding the possibilities of our project. Presentation in BIPH and BBSZ promoted the understanding of stress and synthetic biology as one of its possible solutions, and encouraged future iGEMers to join us on the journey of exploration. Furthermore, we collected valuable opinion from the students of BIPH and BBSZ, which shows a significant increase of 61% in their understanding before and after we presented on iGEM and synthetic biology. In BISZ, we communicated with other former and active iGEMers and communicated on HP and pathway. Which reminds us of the shortcomings of using Cyanobacteria as a chassis compared to other more efficient microorganisms that utilize glycolysis, such as yeast. Therefore, we saw the disadvantages of our project and actively revised it by switching promoters and trying various methods to increase the productive efficiency of cyanobacteria, ending us with a more efficient chassis that has photosynthetic capabilities. All of these efforts will serve to bring us farther.

Purpose: We saw the science fair as a good opportunity to demonstrate synthetic biology to people of all ages and level, due to its nature as a school wide event. Communication and participation of students from middle and elementary school allows us to expand synthetic biology to a new realm and introduce its ability to solve problems to the iGEMers-to-be.

Highlights:

• Through popcorn and souvenirs, we attracted the participation of many students and faculty, who asked and answered questions and made meaningful contributions.
• A presentation to high school students expanded knowledge and allowed us to listen to more opinions from our audience.
• Communications with a large ample size helped us determine what we really need to do to attract popular attention to our project.

Summary: Our team collected a wide array of opinions from all grades and ages, which allows us to better analyze the opinion and needs of students. After our introduction, the participants showed an increasing in acceptance and knowledge on fragrances, their synthesis and their use in relieving stress. These opinions helped us and them tremendously since we collected opinions, which helped us in determining the scents and flavors that people prefer and ideas about the methods to present those scent and aroma. And they are now aware of the damage stress pose on people and the new method to combat it, which is synthetic biology.

What did we do: At Darlington high School, we introduce iGEM competition to the students and promote the students with great thought of using synthetic biology to solve worldwide problems to know iGEM and expand iGEM into a larger and more powerful platform. We also showed them our pre video to let them understand what iGEM competition is actually working on.

Key highlight: We found out that the mental health of international students is something that needs to be solved rapidly. Some international students may experience panic or anxiety cause by the uncertainty of a whole new environment epically those young high school students. Students who have just arrived in a new country cannot adapt to the language and local people's living habits so quickly. So putting their discomfort into words may not be an easy thing to do.

Discussion: We all agree that using odorant molecules to help students who are not yet fully adjusted is the best way to get them back to normal life. We have observed that such students are often not so willing to communicate with the school counselor. In other words, the counselor cannot use psychological treatment to help them return to a normal life without knowing what she/he is thinking at all.

Purpose: Our objective is to offer an engaging online educational presentation that explores the fascinating intersection of synthetic biology and aromatherapy. This presentation provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of these two distinct fields and how they can be combined to revolutionize the world of wellness and healthcare in our project.

Key Highlights:

1. Understanding Synthetic Biology (15 minutes)
   • Definition and essential concepts of synthetic biology.
   • Illustration of synthetic biology applications.
   • Highlighting ongoing research and significant breakthroughs.
2. Aromatherapy and Benefits (10 minutes)
   • Introduction to aromatherapy and its historical roots.
   • Explanation of essential oils and extraction methods.
   • Exploration of the therapeutic benefits in holistic wellness.
3. Our iGEM Project (20 minutes)
   • Overview of iGEM.
   • Detailed project description.
   • Accomplishments to date.
   • Discussion of potential advantages, challenges, and ethical/safety considerations.

Summary: 49 participants engaged in this presentation in total. As presenters, we delved into the core concepts of synthetic biology, showcased its practical applications and latest research, introduced the world of aromatherapy, and explored the therapeutic wonders of essential oils. We also shared our iGEM project's journey, achievements, challenges, and ethical considerations. It not only helped raise awareness for the field and it's potential, but also helped solidify out own understanding of our project and its purpose. It was a stimulating event where participants engaged in a Q&A session and became part of this illuminating conversation.

Purpose: To confirm our hypothesis that scents can be used to regulate mood, it is important to know how that happened and whether it will work or not. To figure out our questions, we decided to go visit an aromatherapy expert, Anna Liang, who achieved a Master's Degree in Environmental Studies at Hong Kong Metropolitan University and founded a new brand called ANA MICHELLE.

Background of Anna Liang: In the interview, Miss Liang said she had been interested in perfume since she was 18. One of her friends from Hong Kong introduced her to Essential Oil (a type of aroma) when she found that she had problems with sleeping because of high pressure from school. Through years and years of investigation and research, she finally created a product that could heal the people around her, which she felt proud of.

Key point: During the interview Miss Liang stated that most of her clients are women. Because of the differences in the biological makeup of men and women, women are more prone to anxiety and depression. Things like postpartum depression, and marital conflict are good examples.

Summary: We learnt that odorant molecules can be used to regulate mood, but only those that are natural extract. Artificial odorant molecules make things worse because they are mostly made from petrochemicals. According to Miss Liang's experience, those who are sensitive to odors might have symptoms of rhinitis or even allergies.

Purpose: The purpose of this interview is to explore Ms. You's, an aromatherapists' insights into the fragrance industry, the influence of scents on well-being, challenges in essential oil production, and her endorsement of our project to address these challenges.

Key Highlights:

• The Influence of Scents on Well-being: Ms. You discuss how different scents can influence an individual's physiological state, affecting mood, stress levels, and overall productivity.
• Challenges in the Fragrance Industry: The fragrance industry faces challenges due to a heavy reliance on natural plant sources, which are affected by factors like weather conditions and seasonal fluctuations. This reliance results in an unstable supply chain and increased production costs.
• Innovative Project: Ms. You believe that our project can address the industry's challenges, including supply chain uncertainties, and make fragrances more accessible and sustainable.

Summary: We can see that scents have a significant impact on the physiological state of people, but the current raw materials used for this purpose are heavy relying on several factors, which increases the price of these goods. However, by applying synthetic biology, our product creates a lower cost while having the same effects as the original products.

Purpose: The purpose of this interview was to engage with and gain insights from the dedicated psychological counselors at two different schools. The interview aimed to understand the prevalent concerns among students at our schools, particularly in terms of academic-related stress and challenges in peer relationships. Additionally, it sought to gather information about the theory and benefits of aromatherapy and receive support and advice from the counselors for our project which is centered around aromatherapy.

• BBSZ interview: Three of our members interviewed the psychological counselors at BBSZ. The counselors shared the current mental situation of our peer students, as well as suggestions toward our project.
• BIHZ interview: Two of our members at BIHZ interviewed their psychological counselors. They gathered information like the daily duties of counselors and the number of people that visits the psychological counseling room each day.

Key Highlights:

1. The counselors shared insights into common student concerns, including academic-related stress and peer relationships. The counselors at BIHZ mentioned that over 200 students visited the psychological counseling room, which is a significantly large number compared to the upper schools’ population.
2. The psychological counselors explained the theory and benefits of aromatherapy, adding depth to the project's understanding. BIHZ and BBSZs’ counselors all used aromatherapy in their counseling room, in order to create a confortable and relaxing environment.
3. The counselors expressed support for the project, recognizing its potential to improve students' emotional well-being.
4. The counselors advised on safety precautions to ensure the project's responsible execution.

Summary: In June, our team conducted interviews with psychological counselors at BBSZ. These interviews revealed that students commonly face academic-related stress and challenges in their relationships with peers. Our project aims to address these concerns through aromatherapy. The BBSZ school counselors supported the project and emphasized the importance of safety, which will guide the project in a positive direction.

Purpose: An interview with Dr. Wei, a researcher at ECUST who focuses on the synthesis of fragrances and terpenoids brings valuable insights to the feasibility of our project. It promotes us on the aspects of finding inefficiencies and faults within our research. Since this is the first time our team tackles such a complicated project, it surely helps to consult other professionals for their opinion.

Key Highlights:

• Be ware of transformation of codons when using E. coli as a medium host
• For plant-originated genes for terpene synthesis, does signal peptides come into effect? If yes, then how does it affect the result?
• Current biosafety is very effective, does not need further editing
• Does the cyanobacteria and E. coli that synthesizes the terpenes reach GRAS level for use in food and medicine?
• How does cyanobacteria compete with more effective organisms, such as E. coli or yeast?

Summary: The professional subject of our interview is Dr. Liujing Wei of East China university of science and technology (Further abbreviated ECUST), who conducted research upon the biosynthesis of α-Pinene through modified Yarrowia Lipolitica. The interview conducted centered around the comparison and communication of research and development and the discussion of benefits and harms of biosynthesis and traditional method. as we exchanged opinions between the use of biological chassis, and the incorporation of promoters and their effects on metabolic pathway. As we introduced our project, we received praise on our measures of biosafety, but Dr. Wei also cast doubts on the use of Cyanobacteria as our chassis, and if its rate of production is comparable with other microorganisms, such as yeast.

Background:We first found out about this shop in Xiaohongshu, a social media platform, and we noticed that this shop is particularly famous for its use of aromatherapy, which is the topic of our project. Smell has always been known to be connected to emotion and memory, but we don't know the exact mechanism. We hoped to find an answer at this shop.

Purpose: Find out how smell can influence emotions and which types of smell are the most popular. Try to schedule an interview with an aromatherapist from Dr.Wong.

Key Highlights:

• Advantage of cyanobacteria: Cyanobacteria is one of the oldest organisms on earth, with a long history of genetic evolution and change, allowing it to be highly adaptable. Three more points:
  1. Cyanobacteria and algae, as photosynthetic microorganisms, have garnered attention in the realm of synthetic biology for a variety of applications, from optimizing metabolic pathways for industrial biochemical production to harnessing their potential for microbial energy storage. Photosynthetic microorganisms possess a unique set of traits that make them prime candidates for synthetic biology, such as their relatively simple physiology, rapid growth through photosynthesis, the presence of established model systems, and valuable subcellular structures.
  2. Achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 is a pressing global challenge. To tackle this issue effectively, it is imperative to advance and promote new technologies for CO₂ recycling. Among these technologies, cyanobacteria stand out as the sole prokaryotes capable of oxygenic photosynthesis, allowing them to convert CO₂ into biomass under sunlight. They play a crucial role as primary producers on Earth, making them a key player in the fight against climate change.
  3. [why cyano instead of yeast or bacteria? Cyanobacteria offer distinct advantages as a synthetic biology chassis over traditional yeast and bacteria. First, their photosynthetic nature allows them to harness solar energy directly, reducing the need for external carbon sources, making them more environmentally friendly. Second, cyanobacteria's prokaryotic simplicity simplifies genetic manipulation, enabling the efficient engineering of metabolic pathways. Lastly, their ability to fix carbon dioxide from the atmosphere provides a sustainable route to produce valuable compounds, contributing to a greener and more cost-effective synthetic biology platform compared to yeast and bacteria.]
• Concept of GRENNESS: In order to select a sustainable chassis, we turned to cyanobacteria, whose capability of photosynthesis allowed for the production of Oxygen, corresponding to ecological sustainability. [We introduced the concept of "GREENNESS," where we opted for cyanobacteria as the foundation for sustainability due to their photosynthetic capacity, enabling the eco-friendly generation of oxygen.]
• Plasmid introduction: selecting a microorganism that has photosynthetic ability and can easily accept plasmids is not easy work, but Dr. Wang has recommended us to take a significantly new approach on this issue. [When it comes to introducing plasmids, the challenge lies in finding a microorganism with photosynthetic capabilities that readily accepts these genetic elements. However, Dr. Wang has advised us to explore a novel approach to tackle this issue effectively.]

Summary: after the meeting, we acknowledge the possibility of using cyanobacteria as a biological chassis, and after thorough investigation and further conversations with Dr. Wang, such idea may be feasible and relatively easy to achieve, while having many unique benefits tailored to our project. This interview allowed us to find a base that we can work on and use synthetic biology to contribute to the well-being of the community.

Purpose: After communication with fellow iGEMers and Dr. Liujing Wei, we noticed several similarities in their concern. They involved around two major characteristics of cyanobacteria that could potentially makes it less advantageous compared to other more efficient microorganisms, such as yeast. Carrying these doubts, our team member again consulted Dr. Wang, hoping to find some answers.

Key Highlights:

• The efficiency of cyanobacteria should not be a worry, due to the pathways naturally existing in cyanobacteria, the production of precursor chemicals is already in place. Therefore, only minor edits had to be made.
• Improvements to the synthesis rate of cyanobacteria, however, should contribute to our project, the solution is the selection of the Trc-Theo promoter, which is an efficient chemical promoter that can significantly increase the rate of production.
• Comparison to other microorganisms: preliminary research had shown that the efficiency of cyanobacteria is comparable to other microorganisms, such as E.coli and Yarrowia Lipolitica mentioned above.

Summary: This interview relieved our doubts on the project and the effectiveness of cyanobacteria, especially if it has to compete with other microorganisms. In conclusion, cyanobacteria are an effective chassis that correspond to the original concept of eco-friendliness and GREENNESS. After grasping holds of these concepts, our group can improve on our original concept and proceed in the project with ease.

Purpose: In order to communicate to more to the key experts about synthetic biology, we consulted Bluepha, a leading figure in the aspect of synthetic biology. We seek to communicate and learn form them how synthetic biology can act as a solution to our already existing problems, and the exact methods to overcome them.

Key Highlights

• Automated lab system, allowed for us to see how computer science and synthetic biology can be combined to promote efficient work.
• Systemic analysis of lab procedures and organizations
• Inspiration on how we can use synthetic biology to make the world better
• Initial concept of bioreactor, which will serve our future incorporation of project

Summary: The visit at Blupha showed us what we can achieve with synthetic biology, and it brings an important inspiration to our team. Bluepha is the leading producer in PHA and recyclable products, such as disposable tableware and straws, the products they create are naturally decomposable and eco-friendly, since they rely entirely on synthetic biology for manufacturing. Communicating with them enhanced our belief that synthetic biology could be used to contribute to our community and act as solution to existing problems.

Purpose: During the charity sale at Southern University, we actively exchanged ideas with other groups to learn from others, and our team presented upon our project and facilitated effective and efficient communication with other iGEM teams based in the Huanan region of China. We exchanged ideas about the ways of efficient production, and discussed how iGEM and synthetic biology could be implemented for the greater good of our community and the world。

Key highlights:

• Communication with iGEM teams such as LINKS-China, SUSTech/SUSMed, SZU, and other iGEM groups who also participated actively in Southern China.
• Presentation and survey collection for promotion and HP of our project
• A dance by our group member
• The communication contributes to our experience and the society as a whole.

Summary: Our team collected professional opinions upon the topic of aroma production and aromatherapy from those teams that participated actively in iGEM, and received quite active feedbacks on the value of our project. This exchange carried profound meanings for our team since it showed us how contributions could be made within and beyond the iGEM community in terms of team collaboration and cooperation.

Purpose: During the Highschool meet up activity, our team presented our project to other highschool teams. We discussed each of our project progress and difficulties encountered by each team, and provide suggestions and feedback to others. By doing this, highschool teams learned from each other and strengthened the communication and cooperation between the teams, achieving a win-win situation.

Key Highlights:

• Communicated with iGEM teams like Links, SCIE and Keystone.
• A lot of valuable questions asked in the Q&A session that contributed to the further developement of our project.

Summary: Our team acquired valuable expertise on aroma production and aromatherapy through productive interactions with highly engaged iGEM teams. The overwhelmingly positive feedback we received regarding the project's importance left a deep impression on our team, highlighting the potential for collaborative contributions both within and outside the iGEM community. This experience underscored the critical role of teamwork and cooperation in our work.

Purpose: The primary purpose of this presentation is to introduce our Cyanoscent project to the members of the BIGZ club, specifically targeting students. In addition to this, we engaged with another iGEM group during the presentation to seek valuable insights and suggestions. Furthermore, we had the opportunity to visit the JET company's lab, where we discussed the development of our algae reactor.

Key Highlights:

• Project Introduction: The central objective of this presentation was to disseminate information about our Cyanoscent project and convey our innovative ideas. We accomplished this by delivering a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation within the premises of JET's lab, providing students with a deeper understanding of our work.
• Collaborative Feedback: Beyond simply introducing our project, we leveraged the presence of another iGEM group during the presentation to gather constructive feedback on our overall project. This collaborative approach allowed us to refine and enhance our project based on valuable input from peers.
• Expert Consultation: Our visit to the JET company's lab was instrumental as they possess substantial expertise in creating substance reactors. This visit facilitated discussions regarding our algae reactor, enabling us to benefit from their knowledge and receive valuable advice for its improvement.

Summary:

By delivering this presentation, we effectively conveyed the core concept of our project to the engaged audience, consisting of our fellow students in the Club. This led to a productive exchange of ideas, with our audience expressing genuine curiosity and posing insightful questions, demonstrating their grasp of the project's fundamentals.

Furthermore, our interaction with the iGEM team proved invaluable as they offered constructive feedback on how we could enhance our product representation. For instance, they suggested exploring alternative reactor designs that are compact and user-friendly for everyday individuals. Additionally, the guidance provided by the manager of JET Company centered on optimizing the construction of our reactor. Their recommendation to compartmentalize our hardware into distinct segments has the potential to significantly enhance the visual clarity of our product.

In intricate structures like ours, where numerous interconnections exist, this approach becomes especially crucial. Therefore, initiating this change within our current reactor design is a prudent step towards achieving a more comprehensible and effective product.