In order to optimize our project and learn more about the diverse applications of synthetic biology, we launched an online cooperation and exchange with the iGEM high school team Squirrel-Guangzhou from Guangzhou. Health issues have always been the focus of social attention and are the basis for people's happy life. The Healing Assistor team and Squirrel-Guangzhou jointly focus on human health issues and carry out research and exploration.

The Squirrel-Guangzhou team is concerned that high sugar intake in daily diet is one of the factors causing obesity. Cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, hyperglycemia, and diabetes caused by obesity are major public health crises affecting human health around the world. As more and more countries impose taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages or classify sugar-sweetened beverages as unhealthy foods, the demand for sweeteners that taste similar to sucrose is rising. Therefore, the Squirrel-Guangzhou team innovated the use of microbial fermentation methods, using Escherichia coli as a carrier fermentation to heterologously synthesize steviol glycosides as a healthier natural sugar substitute for the application market. We learned about each other’s team’s research content, helped each other in the initial market research, received more market feedback, and provided opinions and inspiration for each other’s team’s follow-up activity plans.

iGEM is a big family that helps each other. As iGEMers, our team is also a good partner for win-win cooperation. Strangers from all over the world come together because of iGEM and jointly undertake the mission of solving human social problems. Not only do we gain friendship, It enriches the experience of life! We hope that through our efforts, we can apply the knowledge we have learned into practice and jointly safeguard a healthy and bright future for mankind.