Marburg iGEM team wins again

Multidisciplinary team wins international synthetic biology competition, securing a triple victory

As students from around the world gathered in Paris this year for the most prestigious international competition in synthetic biology, a team from Philipps-Universität Marburg and the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology once again excelled. The Marburg iGEM team not only won the overall iGEM competition, but also took home four additional awards in different categories, including the award for the best plant project. The team's project provides the basis for the further development of a latex-producing dandelion species as a future alternative to the rubber tree as a source of raw material for rubber production. With this success, Marburg University has won the iGEM competition for the third time since 2018 and 2021. No other university has achieved the first place more often in the history of the competition.

The international Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition is an international student competition in synthetic biology, organised by the iGEM Foundation. It aims to inspire students to carry out independent and innovative research during their studies. In synthetic biology, researchers modify existing biological components or combine genetic elements in new ways to develop unique and novel biological properties.

"I would like to congratulate the students and project leaders from our Centre for Synthetic Microbiology SYNMIKRO , the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Medicine, Computer Science, History and the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology," said Prof. Dr. Thomas Nauss, President of the Philipps University. "They competed against more than 400 teams from universities worldwide and have once again brought the prize back to Marburg. This success underlines Marburg's leading position in Synthetic Biology and our sustained support of young talent in this field.” The team was also supported by Siemens Healthineers, Opentrons, Cultivarium, the City of Marburg, Hessen Trade & Invest and numerous other companies.

"This renewed success demonstrates the close and productive collaboration between Philipps University and the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology in Synthetic Biology, both in the Excellence Initiative and in the promotion of new talent," said Prof. Dr. Gert Bange, Vice President for Research.

"The iGEM team established molecular tools that are essential for developing varieties of the latex-bearing dandelion Taraxacum kok-saghyz that are suitable for large-scale cultivation in the northern hemisphere," said team advisor Dr René Inckemann, who recently completed his PhD at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology and was instrumental in the team's success.

"The dandelion species studied is highly resistant and would not compete with land use for food and feed production. It could therefore provide a sustainable alternative to the rubber tree, which has led to the clearing of large areas of rainforest," adds molecular plant physiologist Prof. Dr. Lars Voll. He supervised the student team together with plant biologist Prof. Dr. Felix Willmund and microbiologist Prof. Dr. Anke Becker from the Centre for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO). “In addition, the breeding of dandelion varieties with harvest and cultivation advantages can be accelerated," adds Voll.

The competition is not only judged on the basis of research - students must also present their project to the public and discuss it with experts from various disciplines, incorporating feedback to better align their research goals with societal and industrial needs. This year, the Marburg team was particularly active, engaging not only with dandelion breeders, rubber producers and leading scientists such as Prof. Dr. Dirk Prüfer from Münster, but also with EU representatives, environmental organisations, farmers and historians, all of whom provided critical input on the direction of their project. The strong interdisciplinary nature of the iGEM team, which included students from a variety of academic backgrounds, really paid off.

Text: Press Office, University of Marburg