DNA Submission
- Registry Help Pages:
- TOC
- At-a-Glance
- FAQ
Headquarters may not be able to receive Part Submission shipments between September 24-28. There is a chance that shipments received at these dates may be returned to sender. Please plan your shipments accordingly.
Send a Part Sample to the Registry
You've designed new parts, added them to the Registry and are ready to send the sample DNA. You can start a new submission, or view a previous submission and track the progress as we receive it. Before starting, read the submission requirements and the submission kit instructions.
If you have any questions about part submissions, please contact hq (at) igem (dot) org.
Mailing Address
For all iGEM 2018 Teams and Labs
For 2018, iGEM Teams must ship their part samples by the deadline (October 10) with a tracking number. Teams must follow all shipping guidelines and requirements.
Mailing Address
Only for iGEM 2018 Teams in China
For 2018, iGEM HQ is collaborating with Genscript to help iGEM Teams in China submit their part samples. iGEM Teams in China will ship their part samples to Genscript by the ship by deadline (October 10) with a tracking number, and Genscript will forward these shipments to iGEM HQ. Teams must still follow all shipping guidelines and requirements.
DNA Submission
Requirements
Here's how part samples are sent to the Registry
Why pSB1C3?
Why do samples need to be shipped in pSB1C3?
Detailed Instructions
Instructions on how to fill out the Registry's submission form.
Submission Prep
Registry groups must follow iGEM's submission prep guidelines.
Submission Requirements
Here are the Registry's requirements for documenting parts and preparing part samples for submission. If you do not follow these requirements your submission will not be accepted.
If you have questions or issues concerning the requirements, contact hq (at) igem (dot) org.
Documented
- Parts shipped to the Registry must be documented on the Registry.
- You must add your part to the Registry; it will then receive a part name (BBa_...)
- Your part's sequence must be entered into the Registry
- Annotate your part's sequence with features, add information on how your part works and how to use it best, and include characterization and measurement data
- Quality over quantity: sending a few well-documented parts is always better than sending several that are not
- For examples check out the collection of well documented parts.
Assembly compatible
- Parts must be BioBrick (RFC 10) or iGEM Type IIS compatible
- The Registry can test and maintain all parts in the same way
- Your part can be assembled to others.
- Users can easily move/assemble the part into another plasmid backbone
- Check if your part is BioBrick or Type IIS compatible by looking at the part's sequence and feature box.
- Remember, iGEM and the Registry is built on standard biological parts!
pSB1C3
- Samples must be in pSB1C3, the Registry's standard shipping backbone
- Your part sample will be flanked by the BioBrick prefix and suffix on the backbone
- The Registry can test and maintain all parts in the same way (sequence all parts using VF2 and VR primer sites).
- pSB1C3 is a high-copy plasmid, which improves miniprep yields for parts. (If your part is toxic at high copy, use pSB3C5)
- Users can easily move/assemble the part into another plasmid backbone
- You can use the pSB1C3 linearized plasmid backbone (in kit or by request) or the pSB1C3 samples in the distribution kit.
Physical Shipment
- iGEM teams must follow these shipping guidelines for submitting samples of their parts
- Samples must be sent as dried miniprepped plasmid DNA, at least 250ng
- Submit in 96 well plates, sealed completely (adhesive foil/plastic), and covered with a protective lid.
- Submission shipments must be declared and labeled as DNA (non-hazardous, non-regulated, non-infectious, for research purposes only)
- Samples must not be disguised or hidden to avoid customs
- Refer to Submission Kit help page for submission format details
- You can learn more about shipment safety on the [http://2019.igem.org/Safety/What_is_Safety#Safe_Shipment 2019"Safe Shipment" page]
Safety
- iGEM teams and labs must meet the standards set by the safety committee
- Teams should read through the 2020 iGEM Safety Hub to understand iGEM's Safety policies and rules.
- The Registry accepts parts from Risk Group 1 organisms.
- The Registry may accept parts from Risk Group 2 and 3 organisms that have received authorization from the Safety committee
- Please check your parts against the 2020 "White List" to see if any of them require more detailed documentation
- If your part meets the Registry's submission requirements, you're ready to send a DNA sample:
- You need to fill out an online Submission Form.
- Shipments must have a tracking number provided in the online Submission Form. The Registry uses this to keep track of submissions and for deadline requirements.
- Ship the DNA to iGEM HQ and include a print out of the Submission Form in the package
submission form instructions >>
FAQ: Submission Requirements
Sample submission of parts is no longer a requirement for the iGEM competition. Also, iGEM HQ can no longer accept shipment of samples. Please do not ship any samples to our offices. Information in regards to shipping of samples to iGEM HQ has been kept solely for archival and consistency purposes.
Parts must still be documented on the Registry and follow the guidelines/requirements of the iGEM competition.
What are the requirements for submitting a part sample to the Registry?
The requirements for submission...
- The part must be added and documented on the Registry.
- The part must be BioBrick RFC10 or iGEM Type IIS compatible.
- The part sample must be in pSB1C3, the Registry's shipping plasmid backbone.
- A completed submission form.
- Parts must be prepared in the correct submission format.
Please see the Registry's submission requirements page for more information.
Why do parts sent to the Registry need to be BioBrick RFC10 or Type IIS compatible
iGEM and the Registry are built on standard parts which is vital to making biology easier (and more predictable) to engineer, for high school teams & university teams to research labs. It is also why iGEM has made BioBrick RFC10 and iGEM Type IIS compatibility a requirement; the parts that we receive from teams and labs can be used and assembled by everyone easily and reliably, without the need to substantially alter, experiment, or research alternate methods.
Does the Registry allow other Assembly Standards for parts?
For iGEM teams, only BioBrick RFC10 and iGEM Type IIS compatible parts will fulfill medal requirements and be eligible for awards.
However, you can add parts that aren't compatible with those two standards to the Registry. The Registry supports multiple assembly standards and is also open to integrating new ones. You can easily see what Registry supported assembly standards your part is compatible with, by taking a look at the Sequence & Features box.
My part is not BioBrick compatible
Before working with your part in the lab (characterizing/measuring), make sure it is BioBrick compatible. If not...
- Synthesize your part to remove any illegal restriction sites, through synonymous substitutions (silent mutations).
- Synthesis is also useful, since you can synthesize your part with the BioBrick prefix and suffix, so it is ready for shipping to the Registry. See our synthesis offer with IDT
- Use site-specific mutagenesis to remove any illegal restriction sites, through synonymous substitutions (silent mutations).
Currently, the Registry only accepts parts samples that are BioBrick compatible. If you have questions about this requirement, please don't hesitate to contact iGEM HQ (hq (at) igem . org)! Contact us early and we may be able to address your concerns.
Why do my parts need to be submitted in pSB1C3
Having a shipping standard backbone lets the Registry receive and handle all parts in the same way: using the same growth conditions and quality control measures. With over 1000 new parts submitted each year, this improves our ability to handle, maintain, and test new parts. When anyone uses the part, they'll know exactly what to expect. They can easily unpackage it from the shipping plasmid backbone, and transfer it into a different backbone for a specific use.
Shipping in pSB1C3 ensures...
- Your part sample will be flanked by the BioBrick prefix and suffix on the backbone
- users can assemble these parts with 3A Assembly to build new devices and projects
- The Registry can test and maintain all parts in the same way (sequence all parts using VF2 and VR primer sites).
- pSB1C3 is a high-copy plasmid, which improves miniprep yields for parts
- part samples can be easily moved from one plasmid backbone to another (for shipping, measurement, operation etc.)
My part cannot be submitted in pSB1C3 because of ______
First, contact iGEM HQ (hq (at) igem . org)! Contact us early and we may be able to address your concerns.
There may be a reason why a part sample cannot be submitted in pSB1C3. For example...
- The part contains chloramphenicol resistance. Contact iGEM HQ first. You must use pSB1K3 instead.
- The part is toxic to cells in a high copy plasmid backbone. Contact iGEM HQ first. You must use pSB3C5 instead.
My part is not meant to be used/operated in pSB1C3, can I use ______ instead
Unfortunately, no. Please remember, that the shipping standard backbone lets the Registry receive and handle all parts in the same way. In turn, when these samples are distributed to users, they'll know exactly what to expect. They can easily unpackage it from the shipping plasmid backbone, and transfer it into a different backbone for a specific use.
We've created a new plasmid backbone. How can we submit it to the Registry?
While the Registry does not specialize in plasmids, you can send your plasmid backbone with BBa_J04450, the Registry's default insert. Your plasmid backbone must be able to replicate in E. coli.
Please contact the Registry prior to plasmid backbone submission.
If you are an iGEM team planning on nominating a plasmid backbone for medals/awards, please be aware that the judging form system is looking specifically for parts.
Can we send part samples after the deadline?
There is no longer a shipping deadline for part samples for the 2019 Competition.
If you're an iGEM Lab, you can send part samples at anytime.