During the project, we mainly collaborated with two 2022 iGEM teams——Ø-HAS (Shanghai_Metropolis) and Lip-oceil (SubCat_China). Affected by Covid-19 and geographical factors, we conducted the collaboration meetups through Tencent Meeting app, exchanging ideas with each other and discussing the solutions to problems that we had met with.

The first team we communicated with was Ø-HAS (Shanghai_Metropolis). Firstly, we both made the introduction to our projects and our goals, respectively. Our team focused on establishing an in vitro human glucokinase (GK) activity detection platform, and screening for drugs so as to contribute to the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Their research topic was about reducing the production of higher alcohols in wine to avoid the negative effects caused by excessive drinking. Although the themes vary, we could still share some similarities. For example, we both aimed to develop solutions for improving current methods rather than creating something totally new. Our team aims to provide another solution for the drug screening for type 2 diabetes and their team aims to modify the yeast so as to reduce the production of higher alcohols. Our common goal is to contribute to human health.

In regards to the online survey, the Ø-HAS team provided us with some advice after seeing our questionnaire. They suggested that we could set up some logical rules between different questions so as to lead some specific group to answer some questions and come to some conclusion.

Regarding the business plan, our teams both had trouble positioning and describing our products for sale, which required more discussion. About this topic, we talked a lot and they suggested we could register a patent for our technology and then license it to manufacturers, which was inspiring.

They were quite worried about the tight schedule and heavy tasks. We encouraged them to be confident and suggested they divide themselves into several groups so that they could avoid repetitive work and increase their work efficiency. Meanwhile, they hadn't yet drawn a clear clue about shooting their promotion video. Toward this problem, we advised them to conceive some plots about their topic, even a mini-movie.

Since we were discussing our fundraising plan that day, we also shared them with some troubles we were stuck in. For example, we hadn't decided on the price and we were all rookies at the charity sale not sure how to start the promotion. In this regard, they inspired us that we should seize the great opportunity of the QiXi Festival (Chinese Valentine's Day) and sell some flowers to couples on plazas, during the process, we could introduce our project to them.

In a word, the collaborations with the two teams above are both inspiring and delightful. Through the discussion, we built friendships with these iGEMers and broadened our horizons of science.