International Rational Genome Design Contest

To help reduce Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) electric shortages caused by the influence of the Great East Japan Earthquake, we have now stopped some of our system computers and operate with a minimum number of computers.
After deep discussion, we decided to put off the 2nd GenoCon, originally scheduled for 2011, to 2012. We express our regrets to everyone who expected to participate in the contest. Please check here for notices of the final schedule of the First GenoCon 2010.
We will organize the 2nd GenoCon in 2012. Please join next year.

Entry for the first International Rational Genome Design Contest was closed at 6:00 am (GMT) on October 1, 2010. Thank you very much for your entries. Results will be released on this website.

GenoCon is an international science and technology contest supporting future specialists in rational genome design for Synthetic Biology. (Nature news / RIKEN Research)
This competition having based on semantic-web technology aims to accumulate and share genome-design theories and programs from researchers around the world.
GenoCon accepts designed DNA sequences that improve plant physiology by rationally utilizing the clusters of databases including genomic and protein data integrated by RIKEN SciNeS. (Link to RIKEN press release)

STEP 1

Read carefully the assignment given by GenoCon.

STEP 2

Create a computer program to convert the functionality assigned in STEP 1 to the DNA sequence for the model plant genome. If you are a starter, you had better try a sample program first and modify it.

STEP 3

Execute the programs to output a DNA sequence conferring to the model plant the assigned functionality. Submissions of the following three items `Designed DNA Sequences`, `Program`, and `Report` are required for entry. The three items can be created in working space named `My Page`.

STEP4

The organizer and technical partners will select qualified DNA sequences for experiments by screening submissions based on scientific knowledge and their originality. Professionals will insert the selected DNA sequences into genomes and assay the resulting model plant.

GenoCon is designed with safety in mind. Participants are constrained to so-called bioinformatics activities, (to STEP3), designing DNA sequences from genomic-related information in a browser-based programming environment provided by SciNeS. RIKEN and other research institutes are responsible for biological assays (STEP 4)^*1.

<*1> `Design freely and Test safely` is control criteria for GenoCon.The selectors will screen the submitted DNA sequences in the light of current safety and ethical standards and select candidate sequences for experiments. Any DNA sequence designed with only information has no safety and ethical problems. GenoCon will accept any freely-designed DNA sequence as long as it is designed based on scientific evidence. Such designed sequence may not be candidate for experiments, but may be publicized through this contest site widely. Those sequences might be highly evaluated in the field of genome design, used as an open resource, and verified in the future.