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The International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to education and competition, the advancement of synthetic biology, and the development of an open community and collaboration. iGEM runs two major activities relevant to this course: the iGEM Competition - an international competition for students interested in the field of synthetic biology, and the Registry of Standard Biological Parts - a growing collection of genetic parts used for building biological devices and systems. This course provides students with supervision, direction, detailed feedback, mentoring and assessment for a given year of participation in the competition. Students participate in the following elements of the ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº iGEM project:

â–ª Training in synthetic biology and development of a research project that undergraduate students will execute;

â–ª Design and development of a wiki-based website;

â–ª Exploration of ethical, legal and societal implications of synthetic biology;

â–ª Fostering and establishing collaboration with other iGEM teams from the UK and worldwide and project stakeholders beyond academia;

â–ª Mathematical modelling of biological, bioprocessing and business elements;

â–ª Identification and development of opportunities for commercial exploitation of the technologies explored.

Upon completion of the course, a student should be able to:

• Assemble recombinant DNA BioBricks
• Effectively develop mentoring qualities while practising mentoring teams of undergraduate students participating in the International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) Competition
• Explore the role of ethics, entrepreneurship and mathematical modelling in synthetic biology
• Understand team dynamics and resolve conflicts
• Communicate complex biological and engineering concepts orally and in writing to a broad audience.
• Understand current approaches to exploitation of biology as an engineering tool