| Description | The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki's Synthetic Biology student team, iGEM Thessaloniki, won a gold medal in the iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) International Competition held in Boston, USA October 31 - November 4, 2019. The team, consisting of 9 enthusiastic students, managed to design and develop POSEIDON (Programmable Orthogonal Systems Engi neered Into DNA Oligo Networks), the first DNA computer capable of qualitatively and quantitatively quantifying the interactions between DNA and proteins. Proteins are important biomolecules of particular importance and interest in scientific research both for the study of various biochemical pathways and for the treatment of a variety of pathological conditions. The team focused on the characterization of proteins associated with metastatic melanoma cancer. Through its work, iGEM Thessaloniki has introduced an innovative laboratory method aimed at advancing scientific research through the development of new biomedical tools and the production of new knowledge. POSEIDON won gold medal in the World Synthetic Biology Competition, while the student research work was evaluated by a variety of experts in the competition, awarded for its innovative nature and recognized as critical to the advancement of science.
The iGEM competition started in 2003 as an initiative of MIT University and has been held every year in Boston, USA, under the auspices of the iGEM Foundation. It is the largest competition in Synthetic Biology worldwide, which aims to mobilize young, ambitious researchers and scientists, to present innovative ideas that will assist in the advancement of science as well as to develop interdisciplinary transnational cooperation
Principal Investigatos:
Michalis Aivaliotis – Associate Professor Department of Medicine A.U.TH. (main)
George Mosialos – Professor Department of Biology A.U.TH.
Members:
Aliki Athanasiadou – Department of Physics A.U.TH.
Apostolos Ioannidis – Department of Pharmacy A.U.TH.
Kiriaki Karava – Department of Biology A.U.TH.
Charalampos Malathounis – Department of Chemical Engineering A.U.TH.
Ioannis Maliouris – Department of Informatics A.U.TH.
Platon Megagiannis – Department of Medicine A.U.TH.
Sofia Moysiadou – Department of Biology A.U.TH.
Kristine Chanagkian – Department of Biomedical Sciences I.H.U.
Advisors:
Ioannis Vizirianakis - Department of Pharmacy A.U.TH.
Andigoni Malousi - Department of Medicine A.U.TH.
Konstantinos Kozalakis - PhD Candidate - Department of Physics A.U.TH.
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