Help:Contributions
- Registry Help Pages:
- TOC
- At-a-Glance
- FAQ
Add a Part to the Registry: Related Registry Help Pages
- Add a Basic Part - A tutorial on how to add a basic part
- Add a Composite Part - A tutorial on how to add a composite part
- Scars - Information on assembly scars, and how to specify them for a composite part
- Synthesis - Things to keep in mind if you're adding and documenting a part you've synthesized
- Assembly Compatibility - Make sure your part is compatible with an assembly standard
- Twins - Parts are twins if they have the same sequence
- Document Parts - Recommendations on how to document your parts
- Make a Contribution - Improve existing parts
Have questions on adding a part to the Registry? Send an email to hq (at) igem . org.
The iGEM Registry is a community collection of standard biological parts. A Registry user adds a new part, characterizes, and documents it.
As a part gets used by the community, information and experience about it begins to grow beyond its original documentation.
- Does this part work as stated by the original author
- How does this part compare to another part of the same type?
- Can it work in a different chassis?
- Is there a way this part's function can be optimized?
These questions (and more!) are asked and answered by our community. To make sure that valuable information and characterization is visible to the community and that users are given credit for their contributions, the Registry is introducing the Contribution System.
iGEM HQ is currently developing the Contribution System. In the meantime, you should make contributions to the part's main page.
How to add a Contribution
A contribution is a significant improvement of a part that must be documented on the Registry, and added to the original part's main page. In addition to the main page, you may also (but are not required to) add your contribution to a part's Experience page. See below for examples of different types of contributions and how to properly document a contribution on the Registry.
Please note, that the examples below are only examples of part contributions and how to document them. They are not examples of what the judges expect for a medal criteria. Make sure to read through the medal criteria for a given iGEM year to understand what the judges are looking for.
Contribution Types
| contributions to an existing part | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| contribution type | examples | documentation | |
| characterization/measurement |
|
document your contribution on the original part's page (see below) | |
| informational |
|
document your contribution on the original part's page (see below) | |
| improving/changing the documented sequence |
|
you've created a new part! add it to the Registry, and in its documentation, reference the original part. Create a contribution for your new part on the original part page as well. | |
Contribution Markup
iGEM HQ is currently developing the Contribution System. In the meantime, you can continue to make contributions to the to the original part's main page. In addition to the main page, you may also add your contribution to a part's Experience page, but it must be on the main page as well.
A contribution will need: (you may copy the formatting below)
- Group: (your team/lab name, including the year)
- Author: (the authors of the improvement)
- Summary: (a 1-3 sentence summary of your improvement)
- the documentation of your improvement (text, graphs, pictures, tables, etc.)
- Include sections for purpose, results, methods, etc. (if applicable)
- Uploads: (links to uploads relevant to your contribution, ex: csv containing your data, sequence files, etc.) Note: All files pertaining to a contribution must be uploaded to the Registry.
Judging
As part of the iGEM competition, there may be certain medal or award criteria that relate to parts on the Registry. Please note, that any examples in Registry help documentation do not necessarily reflect what the judges expect for a medal or award criteria. Make sure to read through the medal/award criteria on a given iGEM year's website to understand what the judges are looking for.
Remember, all part medal/award criteria will require that you document what you've done on the specified part's page. It is always up to your team to convey your work and convince the judges through your presentation, poster, and part pages, that you meet these criteria.
Contribution FAQ
Where should I document my contribution?
Your contribution should be documented on the existing part's main page (this is what all Registry users will see first!).
We are creating a minor change to the sequence of an existing part, should we add it as a new part?
Yes. If you are changing, adding, or removing a single base from an existing part, then you are creating a new part. You should add this to the Registry as a new part, and during documentation reference the original part, while also documenting your new part as a contribution on the original part page.
I've made a contribution, will this count as an improvement for the ____ medal/award criteria?
iGEM HQ & the Registry is independent of the competition judging process. All judging is left up to the judges, so we cannot say how a part or part contribution will be considered. Please note that any advice iGEM HQ gives on parts or part contributions, does not ensure fulfillment of medal/awards criteria, nor will it guarantee a medal/award.
We don't know if our work with an existing part counts as a contribution
If your contribution does not fall under the types mentioned, send us an email! We will give you as much insight as we can, but be aware that a final determination will only be made by the judges at the Jamboree.
I've made a contribution, but cannot upload the ____ file type to the Registry?
Send us an email! We'd be happy to answer your question.