Team:BIT/IHP
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Integrated Human Practices
While implementing human practical activities, team BIT arranges, considers, discusses and integrates the activities. We insist on "online and offline ", "interview and return visit", and "educate and being educated". We conducted research
on relevant literature, in-depth public questionnaire visits to understand, to solicit opinions from experts and scholars, return visits to the masses and other activities. We get feedback from them and apply the feedback information
to all aspects of project design, implementation, improvement and application. And Team BIT also publicizes the concept of synthetic biology, iGEM competition and project through human practice activities. Following we will introduce
all of our HP activities in detail and talk about their positive impact on our project.
Logic loop
MODULE1 Background investigation for project establishment
Literature research and brain storm
In the project topic selection stage, we learned about CRC (CRC) through literature research and group discussions. According to the survey, we know that improving the proportion of early diagnosis is considered to be the key to improving
the survival rate of CRC patients, and early screening of CRC is particularly important in clinical practice. Based on the above research results, we completed the preliminary topic selection of the project and discussed our project
with Professor PI Deng Yulin, Associate Professor Lv Xuefei and Professor Li Xiaoqiong. The three professors proposed the following guidance for the project:
1. First of all, the professors conducted a feasibility analysis of the project based on our research on the background and related detection methods of CRC and the basis of the project, which promoted us to determine the project for early screening of CRC;
2. secondly, through our report, the professors also pointed out the shortcomings of our current research : the integrity of the project is not enough; more inclined to the basic background of the research; there is no specific research on how to realize the specific methods of early detection of CRC.
1. First of all, the professors conducted a feasibility analysis of the project based on our research on the background and related detection methods of CRC and the basis of the project, which promoted us to determine the project for early screening of CRC;
2. secondly, through our report, the professors also pointed out the shortcomings of our current research : the integrity of the project is not enough; more inclined to the basic background of the research; there is no specific research on how to realize the specific methods of early detection of CRC.
Fig1：Regular meeting exchange report
Fig2：Brainstorm
After the report, our team began to conduct literature research and regular meeting discussions and carried out brainstorming according to the research results and suggestions were given by the professors. A more comprehensive investigation
was carried out for the systematicness of the project, and our project was preliminarily determined.
Public information collection and feedback
Based on our survey on the background of CRC, we prepared a questionnaire on the basic situation of CRC. The goal of the questionnaire is to count people ’ s understanding of CRC and the acceptability of CRC screening. A total of 107
questionnaires were received. The personal information of the respondents was protected.
Fig.3,4: Questionnaire results
In our questions about the basic background of CRC, nearly one in two people did not know or completely did not know the related symptoms of CRC. Therefore, the popularization of science is very important for colorectal cancer.
Among the following factors that will increase the risk of colorectal cancer, the number of people who believe that intestinal diseases and frequent drinking will increase the risk of disease is relatively large, while the number of
people who believe that age growth and diabetes will increase the risk of disease is relatively small, and some of the more secret factors are uncertain in many people in the survey. Therefore, some pathogenic factors that are
not easily seen the need be popularized to the public in particular.
Fig.5: Questionnaire results(2)
Among the following factors that will increase the risk of colorectal cancer, the number of people who believe that intestinal diseases and frequent drinking will increase the risk of disease is relatively large, while the number of
people who believe that age growth and diabetes will increase the risk of disease is relatively small, and some of the more secret factors are uncertain in many people in the survey. Therefore, some pathogenic factors that are
not easily seen need to be popularized to the public in particular.
Fig.6: Questionnaire results(3)
These data provide a reference for our research direction and value in this field. From the results of the questionnaire, we know that although people do not understand CRC, they have a positive attitude towards early screening. So
it proves that our project has an audience base and practical significance. This provides practical support for the implementation of our project. At the same time, we can also learn that carrying out the necessary science propaganda
for the public is very necessary.
MODULE 2 Learning and promotion
Space Life Science and Medical Engineering Training Course
Fig7,8：Group photo of space life science and medical engineering training course
Some members of our team participated in the training course of space life science and medical engineering. Professors of IAA were invited to teach the course. The contents of the course were related to synthetic biology and microfluidic
chips, the application of organ chips, and so on. At the same time, we had an exchange with the synthetic biology experts in the course of this year 's iGEM project. The experts are very interested in our ideas this year, and put
forward some professional opinions and analysis to us, which is of great significance to the construction and promotion of our project.
At the meeting, we also seized this rare opportunity to share our thoughts on this year ' s iGEM project with doctors and classmates. We talked with the doctors about the technical problems used in the project. Through the communication
with the teacher, we learned that the CRISPR/Cas system is not only used in the field of gene editing, but also in the field of nucleic acid diagnosis in recent years. The application has also become an upward trend. They introduced
us to the feasibility analysis of the biological principle of CRISPR/Cas system in nucleic acid diagnosis. Our research basically established the detection of CRC biomarker miRNA to achieve early detection of CRC. Therefore, we
determined to investigate the application of CRISPR/Cas system in the detection of miRNA. Secondly, the hardware aspect puts forward the problem of whether it can be related to the equipment in the information age, which makes
us think that our project should also be further deepened in integrity and practicability.
Based on the above viewpoints, we have carried on the thinking and discussion, and the literature research has finally determined the detection of miRNA based on isothermal amplification CRISPR system. At the same time, we have designed
an intelligent, highly interactive detection system based on smartphones and sliding chips. At the same time, we have also learned many other applications about synthetic biology and will discuss divergent thinking in the subsequent
development of the project.
Life Science and Intelligent Medical Summit Forum
Our team members were fortunate to participate in the life science and intelligent medical summit forum in the 23rd Annual Meeting of the China Association for Science and Technology.
In this forum, we have a longer-term goal to achieve: whether our project can be combined with auxiliary diagnosis and treatment to provide a reference for early CRC screening and can validate our project for early CRC screening by
collecting more data to form our dataset.
In the training courses and forum meetings, we can learn from the reports of various experts and learn from the experts, which plays a very important role in the promotion of our project.
Fig.9: Meeting venue
At the same time, we have also gained: in the era of big data, data mining is becoming more and more frequent in medical applications. In the stage of biomarker selection, we can conduct data mining on the data set of miRNAs associated
with the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer, establish miRNA models and conduct literature research as a mutual basis.
In the training courses and forum meetings, we can learn from the reports of various experts and learn from the experts, which plays a very important role in the promotion of our project.
MODULE 3 Conference Communication and Project Optimization
In the communication with the team of LZU-CHINA，BIT-China，YiYe_CHINA and ccic conference，we have gained a lot of meaningful suggestions for our project, and summarized and feedback :
图10：Communications
Questions of LZU-China
First of all, two team leaders reported on the 2021 project, during which LZU-CHINA team asked us many constructive questions：
“miRNA expression was high in exosomes.,does your project require exosome extraction and how to extract exosomes?
“ Can miRNA be directly amplified as a sample?”
These problems also guide us to think about where we are not fully considered, and provide a good idea for the improvement of our project. The exchange of experimental experience and lessons between the two teams helped us to improve
the experimental program.
Suggestions of BIT-China
1. In terms of team management, BIT-China put forward their views, they believe that the task is assigned to different heads, the head of the small center to carry out the project, and then report to the head of the center will be
more efficient;
2. In terms of project technology, they are very interested in the miRNA detection of CRISPR/Cas system but they also see our shortcomings, and propose that a variety of CRISPR /Cas systems can be compared to achieve the optimization
and convenience of miRNA detection.
Discussion and cooperation with YiYe_China
.Both of our two teams carried out early screening for CRC. Through the communication, we complemented the methods of the two teams and exchanged them to the feasibility of technology. miRNA is a single chain that enables CRISPR\Cas12
system to identify and work. The cooperation and communication with team YiYe_China improved our understanding and design of the project.
2.At the same time, according to the analysis of the questionnaire, we started the planning of the first online popular science lecture on CRC. On July 30, we cooperated with Bilibili to carry out the online popular science lecture
on CRC. This lecture popularized the knowledge of CRC to the public, so that the public can understand CRC better, and help us obtain the improvement suggestions of the project, which expanded the public influence of iGEM.
Learing in the CCiC
1. In the conference, each team carries out a comprehensive display of the project, the professional review teacher asks us questions and gives me suggestions for the project, and then opens the communication room to communicate with
other teams.
2. In the discussion room, we asked the team similar to our project why they chose CRISPR / Cas9 system. We compared the difference with our Crispr / Cas12 system. We also learn from other teams’ excellent experience of HP, Wiki and
so on .
MODULE 4 Visiting enterprises
Meetup in Bluepha
Bluepha is a synthetic biology high-tech enterprise founded by iGEMers. It has been committed to promoting and popularizing synthetic biology education and it is also a leader in the field of synthetic biology in China. Our team BIT
went to the lab to visit and study and communicated with the other four teams.
Team BIT, team RDFZ, team GJU China and team NDNF-China all introduced their project and exchanged discussions with each other.
In the communication of Bluepha Laboratory, we have gained a lot of experience and advice:
1. The selection of biomarkers should have a correct basis； 2. How miRNA joint testing can be done simultaneously and separately, the method should be clear； 3. Whether the relevant data of colorectal cancer patients can be obtained；
1. The selection of biomarkers should have a correct basis； 2. How miRNA joint testing can be done simultaneously and separately, the method should be clear； 3. Whether the relevant data of colorectal cancer patients can be obtained；
Fig.11： Meetup in Bluepha
These recommendations provide valuable advice for our subsequent project improvements.
MODULE 5 Educate and Be Educated
Online
In China, the WeChat platform is a propaganda tool widely used by the media and enterprises. The production and forwarding of its push can be used as a tool to increase publicity. Every day, it can send articles to fans who are concerned
about the account for the project and iGEM science popularization. The contents of the articles include team promotion, project introduction, the popularization of synthetic biology, CRC science popularization articles and the
sharing of excellent papers.
Similarly, we created WeChat emoticons belonging to team BIT, as well as key rings, bookmarks and other creative products to promote our iGEM and project.
Fig.12: emoticons
If you want to download, please search ' iGEM BIT ' on WeChat platform.
We also used other online promotions. On the Bilibili platform, team BIT and team YiYe-China conducted a live broadcast of colorectal cancer science promotion and synthetic biology promotion. The live broadcast introduced the clinical
symptoms, hazards, mainstream of colorectal cancer, detection methods and more optimized detection methods conceived by the two teams respectively. This live broadcast has nearly 5,000 popularity points (approximately 500 people)
watched this live broadcast. The main users of the Bilibili platform are young people aged 14-30. At the same time, the younger age and early onset of colorectal cancer are not well known to the public. Therefore, our live broadcast
is aimed at the "target audience". Through this live broadcast, we can let them know more about colorectal cancer. So we can introduce our project to them and broaden the audience base of the product.
Fig.13: Listener questions
The meeting introduced the clinical symptoms, hazards, mainstream detection methods of CRC and the more optimized detection methods conceived by the two teams. This lecture popularized the relevant knowledge of CRC to the public, so
that the public could understand colorectal cancer better and help us to obtain suggestions for improvement of the project, which expanded the public influence of iGEM. In this live broadcast, some researchers study CRC provided
us with very valuable opinions during the live broadcast. His suggestions such as "the pros and cons of the current markers and the detection methods used" and "how to solve the problem of false positives" all make us think. Therefore,
we also arranged special experiments to solve these problems in the follow-up project improvement. problem. At the same time, he also recommended that we increase the carrier experiment, and after in-depth communication with him,
we will also take this as one of our future improvement directions.
Offline
In order to increase the publicity of iGEM and our project, during the holidays we organized our team members to conduct community publicity activities in the communities where they live. They conducted iGEM and colorectal cancer research
activities with relatives and friends, community residents, and community workers. Our community promotion covers all age groups. Our community propaganda has expanded the social influence of iGEM, which can help us let more people
understand colorectal cancer, understand our project, and provide an audience basis for our project.
Fig.14：We introduce colorectal cancer to people of different ages
Team BIT reported an offline lecture on the project on the campus of Beijing University of Technology. In this event, our team introduced students to synthetic biology, iGEM competition and our team project content. Through this lecture,
students from different majors can understand synthetic biology and iGEM competition and understand the importance of early detection of CRC. In the interaction of the lecture process, we know that some of the family members of
classmates or friends have had CRC patients. We hope that the lecture can help us to understand more about CRC and how to prevent the occurrence of CRC.
With a basic understanding of CRC, our team members further understand the introduction of POCT detection of colorectal cancer by team BIT. The isothermal nucleic acid amplification, CRISPR gene editing and other technologies in the
frontier of synthetic biology integrated in the project have enabled students to have a deeper understanding of iGEM and the team. The interaction with students has aroused mutual discussion and curiosity about synthetic biology.
Fig15,16: Lectures for college students
Fig.17：Lectures for college students(2)
Moreover, we continued to hold two lectures and invited the other three teams to carry out publicity with us. We held a joint popular science lecture with BIT-China, iBowu-China and BUCT-China. Four teams combined online and offline
to explain why ethics is so important. In this lecture, we discussed ethical issues together, which is helpful to strengthen our understanding of basic experimental safety and experimental ethical codes in the experimental design
process. At the same time, the participating students were very interested in our lectures and asked many questions :
In order to push the knowledge and charm of iGEM into middle school education, we went to Beijing Yucai Middle School. In the lecture, our team leader Liu Zhoumi introduced iGEM and synthetic biology to middle school students who are
full of unknown but full of imagination about iGEM. He all introduced our team and our project, so that students have a deeper understanding of iGEM. During the lecture, he also linked synthetic biology with the interesting project
of iGEM to arouse students' divergent thinking and helped them better understand synthetic biology.
Fig.18,19：Offline lecture for middle school students
Sense of Value
According to the data background investigation, we know that the 5-year survival rate of young patients with rectal cancer aged 20-40 years old and elderly patients with rectal cancer aged 60-80 years old in stage I, II, III and IV
has a significant decreasing trend. Most patients with CRC have reached the middle and late stages of the tumor at the time of diagnosis, so that patients miss the best treatment period and about 15 % ~ 25 % of them cried for liver
metastasis at the time of diagnosis. More than 80 % of the liver metastases can not be radical resection. Therefore, improving the proportion of early diagnosis is considered to be the key to improving the survival rate of patients
with colorectal cancer. Early screening of CRC is particularly important in clinical practice. At the same time, in our questionnaire, the masses are extremely expecting for the early screening of CRC, because based on the early
screening of CRC, it can help to detect tumors in the early stage and remove local cancerous sites or precancerous lesions ( adenomatous polyps ) to effectively prevent and improve the occurrence and prognosis of CRC. The stage
diagnosis of CRC can greatly improve the survival rate of patients, thereby reducing the occurrence of tumor metastasis. Our project has carried out a systematic experimental design based on the early screening of colorectal cancer
and the product is realized to make our contribution to the early screening of CRC. Put forward our ideas and contributions for early screening of CRC, effectively prevent and improve the occurrence of CRC, and cooperate with doctors
to make early diagnosis of colorectal cancer, greatly improve the survival rate of patients.
Summary
Through literature research, public information feedback and other preliminary research, we have counted the data. These results give us confidence in the implementation of this year’ s project, and let us determine that this year’
s project has practical significance and is required by the public.
According to the results of previous research, we also determined that we should carry out relevant project science lectures to help more people understand CRC, its detection methods and the trend of synthetic biology. And at the same
time enter the student classroom for the dissemination of synthetic biology.
In the project, we have carried out a variety of HP activities to help us collect feedback and help us improve the project. Through the exchange of other teams, asking for advice from experts and scholars and collecting feedback from
the audience, we continuously improve and perfected the project. The biological hardware and other parts of our project are also constantly improving and perfecting.
It is through these HP activities that we can gain the opinions of different groups of people, which help us improve our project. And we can also play our social role to help the public understand this disease.
In the future
Based on the HP that has been carried out, we think about the future development of the project. Compared with the existing miRNA detection technology projects, the project has the characteristics of high sensitivity and high specificity
to meet the needs of miRNA detection. At the same time, combined with the hardware foundation and mobile phone information technology, we finally build an integrated, portable and intelligent auxiliary diagnosis system for CRC.
The miRNA we choose is the object with a high correlation with CRC according to the results of literature research and modeling analysis.
The platform they designed is a general-purpose miRNA analysis platform, so miRNA targets for different diseases can be analyzed to provide diagnostic references for other diseases besides early diagnosis of CRC. In the future, we
hope to broaden the scope of application of this project and make more contributions to human health.