Renaissance School Students Win UVA Synthetic Biology Prizes

Renaissance School Students Win UVA Synthetic Biology Prizes Posted: Thursday, October 9, 2014 1:14 PM EDT Updated: Thursday, October 9, 2014 1:14 PM EDT

Renaissance School Press Release

Charlottesville, VA. October 9, 2014 - Three seniors in Renaissance School's Synthetic Biology class have won first and second prizes and honorable mention in a "What Synthetic Biology Can Do For You" competition at University of Virginia. Members of UVa's iGem (International Genetically Engineered Machine) team presented the grand prize of $400 to Lauren Ewell for her project concept involving using E. coli to produce leptin, a human hormone, to combat obesity. Jessica Prax won second prize of $100 for her proposal to alter E. coli to produce oxytocin to promote labor during childbirth. Alex Manchester was awarded an honorable mention prize of $25 for his project to improve water quality by using altered E. coli as a parasite in crickets.

Renaissance School, in association with the University of Virginia, offers an advanced Synthetic Biology course, allowing high school students to be involved with this emerging engineering discipline involving the redesign and construction of biological systems. iGEM is a group of undergraduates competing in an international program to develop ideas for using manipulation of E. coli to help solve a wide range of problems.The Renaissance School Synthetic Biology team participated in the high school level iGEM competition in June 2013 at MIT, one of only 33 high schools in North America and two in Virginia to be involved with this innovative program. The Synthetic Biology course is an elective class that is part of Renaissance School's enriching academic program.

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Renaissance School Students Win UVA Synthetic Biology Prizes