Team:Hong Kong HKUST/hp/article/hk

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<li><a href="https://2013.igem.org/Team:Hong_Kong_HKUST/advisors">Advisors</a></li>
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<a href=#1>Overview</a>
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<h3>Overview</h3>
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In this country profile, all the information was obtained from reliable government and official websites. This profile includes information of perception, regulations, researches, funding, market, events, people and organizations about synthetic biology and biotechnology.<br><br>
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In general, synthetic biology and other fields of science are considered less significant in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong government does not provide much support to the field of science compared to other fields such as business. Moreover, the awareness of bio-safety issues in Hong Kong is not high among the general public.
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We hope that this country profile will provide readers information about synthetic biology and biotechnology so that more people understand and review the situation of scientific development in Hong Kong
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This country profile contains information about different aspects of synthetic biology in Korea, including regulation, research, people, perception, and organization. In general, synthetic biology is a small but rapidly growing field in Korea. This trend is guided by a comprehensive plan called the Bio-Vision 2016.
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In this country profile, information of synthetic biology in South Korea is compiled from different on-line sources such as government website, official government annual reports, news articles, and reviews. Searches were conducted in both English and Korean media. This country profile contains information about different aspects of synthetic biology in Korea, including regulation, research, people, perception, and organization. However as specific classification of work under the moniker of ‘synthetic biology’ is still uncommon in South Korea, wherever a specific aspect of information cannot be found described under synthetic biology, we have obtained the same information under the wider field of ‘biotechnology’. Information about biotechnology may be inferred to see the general growth trend of synthetic biology and its future development. In fact, biotechnology research institutes and companies are the ones that are most likely to adopt the synthetic biology approach (Hranueli, 2013).
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In general, synthetic biology is a small but rapidly growing field in Korea. This trend is guided by a comprehensive plan called the Bio-Vision 2016. In 2006, the Korean government announced the Bio-Vision 2016 as a 10 year plan aimed at developing Korea’s biotechnology capabilities into making the nation a leader in the field. Needless to say, this has also allowed synthetic biology to gain a foothold in Korea (Cho, 2006).
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<h5>Design</h5>
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The design went through several iterations during the semester. After multiple home-design options, we concluded a 100 ml volume cylinder composed of polycarbonate and sealed with silicone sealant. Two graphite electrodes  (a working and counter electrode) and a Ag/AgCl reference electrode. Five ports on each end of the reactor were included to allow sterile loading, food feed, and electrodes.
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Because we are detecting current, the entire composition of the reactor needs to be non-conductive except for the electrodes. The polycarbonate structure accomplishes this requirement in addition to being durable and chemically resistant. Graphite electrodes were used since other metals could be potentially toxic to Shewanella. The Ag/AgCl electrode was constructed using an impact-resistant glass which is resistant to corrosion.
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<h5>Assembly</h5>
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We machined the polycarbonate housing in the Emerson Machine shop in Rhodes Hall. Graphite electrodes were ordered from McMaster, and the reference electrodes were constructed by a professional glass blower in Olin Chemistry Hall. The components were sealed using silicone sealant in our Weill Hall laboratory space. Testing was performed with sterile water to ensure a leak proof construction was achieved
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<h3>Synbio Map</h3>
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SynBio Map identifies and locates companies, universities, research institutions, laboratories and other centers across the globe that are active in the synthetic biology research ("Synthetic biology project," ). It is a good tool to compare the development of synthetic biology all around the world. This map was created by the Synthetic Biology Project at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. 
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In this map, 5 entries are located in Hong Kong. Two of them are in the University of Hong Kong and two are in the Chinese University of Hong Kong, while the remaining one is a private company.<br><br>
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<h3>Filtration</h3>
+
-
<br>
+
-
<h5>Requirements</h5>
+
-
From an environmental safety perspective, the filters were one of the most important components. We required
+
-
filters which could completely prevent microbes from entering or leaving the system. This constraint requires
+
-
extremely reliable,  and ultrapurifcation quality filters.
+
-
<br>
+
-
<h5>Design</h5>
+
-
After researching, we ultimately chose the SWT  0.1 Micron Absolute Rated Filter. Given the diameter of most
+
-
bacteria ranges from  0.2-2.0 micron, and the absolute 100% rating of the filter, the filter easily qualified.
+
-
<br>
+
-
<h5>Materials</h5>
+
-
The filter cartridges are composed of 100% polypropylene membranes which have a failure rating of 65 PSI.
+
-
Additionally, their lifetime are rated at 200 gallons, which equates to nearly 5 years of continuous operation
+
-
at 0.3 ml/min.
+
-
<br>
+
-
<h5>Assembly</h5>
+
-
The filters were housed in a polycarbonate framing with threading leading to an inlet and outlet stream.
+
 +
<h3>Participation in the iGEM Competition</h3>
 +
Universities in Hong Kong have been actively participating in the iGEM competition. Since 2008, out of 9 universities in Hong Kong, 4 took part in the competition.<br><br>
 +
The four universities are Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), University of Hong Kong (HKU) and Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU).
 +
HKUST and HKU are the most active participants of the competition. Both of them joined the competition every year from 2008 to 2012. CUHK joined in since 2010, and HKBU participated in 2009 in cooperation with HKU ("Synthetic biology project,").<br><br>
 +
<center><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/e/e9/Hongkong_participation_in_the_iGEM_competition.png">
 +
<br></center>
 +
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="row">
<div class="row">
-
<div class="nine columns">
+
-
<h3>Pumps</h3>
+
<div class="nine columns"><p id="4"></p>
-
<br>
+
 
-
<h5>Requirements</h5>
+
<h3>Biotechnology Industry</h3>
-
Continuous monitoring requires a steady inflow of sample fluid to be supplied to the bioreactor. Given an
+
Because of the predominance of market forces and source of capital, biotechnology industry in Hong Kong has been growing in recent years. According to the Innovation and Technology Commission, there are approximately 250 to 300 biotechnology-related companies in Hong Kong. They are mainly related to health-care business such as pharmaceuticals, traditional Chinese medicine, health-care products, and medical devices and diagnostics. These companies work on product research, manufacture, marketing and sales ("Innovation and technology," 2013).<br><br>
-
operational lifespan of at least 6 months using battery power supplemented with solar also required a low
+
<center><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/0/0e/Hongkong_biotechnology_industry.png">
-
power draw. Finally the flow rates required for a 100 ml continuous flow reactor are less than 1 ml/min.
+
<br></center>
-
<br>
+
Fascinated by the mature business operation environment and close relationship with China, a market with great potential, more international biotechnology companies are attracted to set their offices in Hong Kong. It is foreseeable that biotechnology industry will be much bigger in the coming future.<br>
-
<h5>Design</h5>
+
-
After researching low power draw pumps, we decided on the Bartels Mikrotechnik mp6 Micropump. The pump uses two
+
-
extremely small actuators which increase the flow of the fluid with a greater frequency supplied to the pump.
+
-
Since the flow rates are so small, the pressure head associated with the filters does not exceed the 600 mbar
+
-
maximum. A mp6-EVA electronic controller was also purchased from Bartels which allows external tuning of flow rate.
+
-
The original controller can only be supplied with at 2.5-5 V voltage source, so a step-down was necessary to be
+
-
compatible with the battery inside the device.
+
-
<br>
+
-
<h5>Material</h5>
+
-
Contamination and corrosion are always a concern in continuous operation. A benefit of the mp6 micropump is that
+
-
all surface in contact with the fluid is PPSU (polyphenylsulfone) , a heat and chemical resistant plastic.  
+
-
<br>
+
-
<h5>Assembly</h5>
+
-
The micropumps were received in June to perform autoclaving testing on the parts. In October, after the remainder
+
-
of the device was assembled, the micro pumps were put online in the device and confirmed the ability to supply
+
-
continuous flow through the entire device including the two filters, mixer, reactor and piping.  
+
-
</div>
+
-
<div class="three columns">
+
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="row">
<div class="row">
-
<div class="three columns">
+
<div class="nine columns"><p id="5"></p>
 +
 
 +
<h3>Biotechnology Industry Funding</h3>
 +
Hong Kong government does invest on biotechnology and scientific researches by providing funding even though the amount is relatively low compared to that of the business sector. They also established the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) aiming to upgrade Hong Kong’s technological level and promote innovative ideas so as to increase the competitiveness of the economic activities. It provides the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) which grants various technology areas. According to the report on 30th June 2013, HK$ 7.5 billion (around US$ 970 million) was funded to 3376 projects in different technology areas. Among them, HK$ 462.1 million (around US$ 59 million) was invested to support 223 biotechnology projects. The ITF also granted HK$588.3 million (around US$ 76 million) out of total HK$7.5 billion (around US$ 970 million) to the industrial sector of biotechnology (“Innovation Technology,” 2013).<br><br>
 +
<center><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/c/cb/Hongkong_biotechnology_industry_funding1.png">
 +
<br><br><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/4/47/Hongkong_biotechnology_industry_funding2.png"></center><br><br>
 +
ITC also provided Applied Research Fund which gave funding support to technology ventures and research projects that have commercial potential. In 1993, the government invested HK$ 750 million (around US$ 96 million) to the funds. However, the fund ceased making new investments in the end of March in 2005. In total, HK$ 28.27 million (around US$ 3.6 million) were invested to the field of biotechnology ("Innovation and technology," 2013).<br>
 +
</div>
 +
 +
</div>
 +
<div class="row">
 +
 +
<div class="nine columns"><p id="6"></p>
-
</div>
+
<h3>Regulations for Synthetic Biology</h3>
-
<div class="nine columns">
+
Since synthetic biology is not prominent in Hong Kong, there is no law specifically related to it. Also, the Hong Kong government gives less attention to scientific research itself. In fact, there are laws that only govern the derivative products developed from research. If this legislative trend continues, it is foreseeable that the Hong Kong legislation will consider synthetic biology in more detail when there are more commercialized products that are manufactured from the research of synthetic biology.<br>
-
<h3>Piping and Instrumentation</h3>
+
Currently, there are only laws related to the genetically modified organisms and guidelines for medical products.
 +
In order to monitor genetically modified organisms, Hong Kong implemented the Genetically Modified Organisms (Control of Release) Ordinance and the Genetically Modified Organisms (Documentation for Import and Export) Regulation based on the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which is an international agreement aims at ensuring the safe handling, transport and use of living modified organisms (LMO). Under the ordinance, the importation of LMO to Hong Kong (except for exemptions provided by the exemption notice) with the intention to be released into the environment requires prior approval from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.<br><br>
 +
In terms of bio-safety of cloned animals, according to the Hong Kong Agricultural Biotechnology Annual written by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service, Hong Kong government’s awareness towards risk assessment of cloned animals was not sufficient. 
 +
Moreover, it is not compulsory to label biotech foods or feeds in Hong Kong. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) in Hong Kong released guidelines for voluntary labeling of biotech foods in 2006 because of the citizens’ urge of informed choices. The guidelines that apply to prepackaged food were constructed by a working groups comprised of members from various sectors including manufacturing, wholesale, retail, consumer groups and government departments. The guidelines mention that it is recommended to include information such as the intended use and presence of animal genes inside a product (Yuen, 2013).
<br>
<br>
-
<h5>Requirements</h5>
+
<center>
-
To connect each component of the system including the filters, food tanks, sample ports, and
+
<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/c/c3/Hongkong_regulation.png"></center><br>
-
mixer requires a leak-proof, durable system. Additionally we required methods to calibrate the
+
Regulation for medical product is more stringent. If scientists want to apply synthetic biology to develop medical products that have clinical application, they will need to pass all the phases of clinical research. Starting from typical lab test, model organisms test, and finally to human test. Products that pass all these tests are finally allowed to be commercialized. <br>
-
flow rate of the fluids throughout the device, so pressure gauges and flow meters are necessary.
+
 
-
<br>
+
 
-
<h5>Design</h5>
+
-
After several drafts, our ultimate design was combination of 304/316 stainless steel piping, valves,
+
-
and adapters. FEP durable plastic tubing was used for connections between filters and ports  which
+
-
require flexibility when servicing or reparing the device. A stainless steel in-line passive mixer was
+
-
included to avoid power drains from mechanical mixing. Two pressure gauges were included along the wetted
+
-
path to provide readings for calibration. Two 0.01-4 ml/min flow meters were added as well. The fluid can
+
-
be diverted from the calibration system using a 3-way diverter valves. Precision needle valves were included
+
-
after the feed out from both micropumps to control flow rate.
+
-
<br>
+
-
<h5>Materials</h5>
+
-
Both stainless-steel and fluorinated ethylene propylene plastics are sturdy and corrosion resistant. All fittings in the system were also 304/316 stainless steel. In summary, these components allow an extremely tight-fitting system which should avoid leaks for extended operations
+
-
<br>
+
-
+
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="row">
<div class="row">
-
<div class="nine columns">
+
<div class="nine columns"><p id="7"></p>
-
<h3>Food Tanks</h3>
+
 
-
<br>
+
<h3>Perception of Synthetic Biology</h3>
-
<h5>Requirements</h5>
+
<h5>Government</h5>
-
Food storage vessels for long-term field deployment must be durable, corrosion resistant, and autoclavable to
+
Synthetic biology is not a great interest for the government. The  5 major fields in science that the government announced to actively develop are logistics and supply chain management enabling technologies; nanotechnology and advanced materials; and textiles and clothing. Synthetic biology was not included in this category ("Hong Kong the," 2013).
-
prevent initial contamination. To avoid damage to electronic components necessitates a leak-proof design.  
+
<br><br>
-
<br>
+
<center><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/9/98/Hongkong_perception1.png">
-
<h5>Design</h5>
+
<br></center>
-
A battery of six one liter cylinders was chosen for its modularity and ease of fabrication.
+
Also, due to the conspicuous achievement of economy and business sector, science is not the major focus of the Hong Kong government. According to the 2013 Policy Address, there are only three plans slightly related to science field. One of them says that the government will provide software and hardware support for the industry, academia and research sectors to foster co-operation and examine the patent system of research and development results. Since development of innovation and technology is elevated to a very important strategic level in the National 12th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong, which has a close relationship with China, will also provide more platforms for scientific research collaboration between the Mainland and Hong Kong. This may help improve the people’s awareness to science and may focus more on the sophisticated field like synthetic biology ("HKSAR the 2013," 2013).
-
<br>
+
<br><br>
-
<h5>Material Selection</h5>
+
According to the speech during the Synthetic Biology 4.0 meeting by Mr. John C. Tsang, the financial secretary of Hong Kong in 2008, the government aimed to make technology a key pillar for shaping Hong Kong as an advanced knowledge-based society. He also mentioned that since the connection between Hong Kong and Mainland China is very close and China is a potential market of new technologies, Hong Kong would like to play an important role in promoting scientific research in Asia. Moreover, Hong Kong has the advantages of free-flowing ideas, strong protection for intellectual property rights and solid law basis. These can provide a fertile environment for creativity and innovation. Therefore, Hong Kong has the potential to develop innovative science and technology ("Press release," 2008).<br><br>
-
The choice of materials depended on the cost and durability of that material. Since we have
+
 
-
had prior experience with polycarbonate, we decided it would be best to continue to use
+
<h5>Public</h5>
-
polycarbonate as the material for the containers. Polypropylene was used for the end caps
+
The public awareness on synthetic biology of Hong Kong citizens was surveyed by the  HKUST iGEM 2011 team. The result showed that 44.48% of the respondents reported that they had heard about synthetic biology. The aspects of synthetic biology that the public was most concerned were the scientific processes and techniques (25%), the possible risks (20%) and the claimed benefits (17%). The moral and ethical issues received less attention (9%). The respondents’ overall impression about all the newly developed technologies and the focused biological technologies were both more likely to be positive, but close to neutral. This probably showed a general conservative attitude towards synthetic biology among the general public in Hong Kong ("Synthetic biology survey," 2011).
-
because it was chemically resistant and cheap.
+
<br><br>
 +
<center><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/d/dd/Hongkong_perception2.png">
 +
<br></center>Reference: The target of this question was the respondent’s major concern or worry about synthetic biology.<br><br>
 +
This survey, however, might be biased. The team used the internet to conduct the survey, and therefore the respondents were only the people who use the internet regularly.
 +
Reference: The target of this question was the respondent’s major concern or worry about synthetic biology
<br>
<br>
-
<h5>Assembly</h5>
+
<h5>Scientists</h5>
-
The food tanks were all machined in-house at the Rhodes Hall Machine shop. The
+
Based on the interview with Professor Albert Yu that our team has conducted, field of synthetic biology is not widely known even among scientist. Only scientists with deeper knowledge in related fields such as systems biology and genetics know about it. This may be due to the fact the synthetic biology is a relatively young field and require understanding and knowledge in multiple disciplines.<br>
-
polycarbonate clear tubing was glued together with the polypropylene via a super silicone
+
-
sealant adhesive to form a clean and strong seal.
+
-
</div>
+
 
-
<div class="three columns">
+
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
-
<div class="row">
+
<div class="row">
-
<div class="three columns">
+
<div class="nine columns"><p id="8"></p>
 +
 
 +
<h3>Research, People and Organizations</h3>
 +
<h5>Biotechnology research and development capabilities in Hong Kong</h5>
 +
Hong Kong has a large capability for biotechnology development. Its biomedical research is already internationally competitive. According to a study conducted by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park Corporation in 2004, the total number of basic medical publications per year was doubled to about 700 between 1997 and 2002. Around 250 biomedical study of high impact is conducted every year at present. Also, in recent years Hong Kong made great scientific contribution in genomic projects, and in identification of infectious diseases such as SARS and avian flu virus.
 +
<br><br>
 +
This kind of development in biotechnology was probably possible in Hong Kong because universities in Hong Kong are actively participating in biotechnology related research. With excellence in scientific innovation and research breakthroughs, Hong Kong’s universities are considered to be some of the best universities in Asia- Pacific region. In fact, out of 9 tertiary institutions, 6 of them are participating in biotechnology related research and have related undergraduate and graduate courses.
 +
<br><br>
 +
<h5>Biotechnology infrastructure</h5>
 +
A bioinformatics centre and other buildings with shared equipment facilities are now operating in the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks. They are there to support the development of biotechnology in Hong Kong. These facilities can be utilized by biotechnology companies for research and development purpose. At present, there are around 50 biotechnology-related occupants in the Science Park and other industrial estates.
 +
<br>
-
</div>
 
-
<div class="nine columns">
 
-
<h3>Housing</h3>
 
-
<br>
 
-
<h5>Requirements</h5>
 
-
The requirements that we found necessary for the chassis to operate were keeping it water-proof and impact resistant.  Ultimate deployment would be in harsh environments  and necessitates protective measures to prevent water supply from damaging electronic components
 
-
<br>
 
-
<h5>Design</h5>
 
-
The design went through several iterations during the semester. After multiple home-design options, we concluded a Pelican heavy duty case would provide the support and safety we required.  Not only was it sturdy and water-proof, but it was also large enough to be buoyant in water with up to 180 lbs of load. 
 
-
<br>
 
-
<h5>Material Selection</h5>
 
-
The  polycarbonate material for the Pelican case was ideal in terms of stress and other parameters to handle the harsh wilderness. 
 
-
<br>
 
-
<h5>Assembly</h5>
 
-
Modifications to the Pelican case were performed to meet the  of electrical components and supply of water  samples to device. A 15 W solar panel was retrofitted to the lid  of the case to provide replenish power supply. Inlet/outlet ports were drilled  to  allow piping system coming out of the top to serve as inlet and outlet ports for the water to enter and exit the device.  A joint piece between the solar panel and power adapter was fabricated to serve as waterproofing connections from the Pelican case.  Aluminium honey-comb plating was included and cut to size using water-jetting to act as both a housing for food tanks and batteries, and provide structural suppor.
 
-
<br>
 
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
-
<div class="row">
+
<div class="row">
-
<div class="nine columns">
+
<div class="nine columns"><p id="9"></p>
-
<h3>Power</h3><br>
+
-
<h5>Requirements</h5>
+
-
To be deployable for the of target six months of operations requires an autonomous electrical source
+
<h3>Events Related to Synthetic Biology in Hong Kong</h3>
-
in the wild without human repair or maintenance, recharge and store energy for extended periods of time.
+
<h5>Synthetic Biology 4.0 meeting at HKUST</h5>
-
A rugged device must also be able to survive bear attacks and tree falls, all while being environmentally
+
The Fourth International Meeting on Synthetic Biology (SB4.0) was held from 10th to 12th October 2008 at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Researchers in the field of synthetic biology from all around the world gathered in Hong Kong to discuss legal, ethical and social issues involving synthetic biology. They also shared their experiences with each other.  
-
friendly and light enough to allow for floatation.
+
<br><br>
-
<br>
+
<center><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/a/a3/Hongkong_events_related_to_synthetic_biology_in_hongkong1.png">
-
<h5>Design</h5>
+
<br></center>
-
    After a series of designs, we chose a LPG Series gel electrolyte valve-regulated lead acid battery
+
<h5>Host of iGEM Asia Jamboree</h5>
-
(LPG12-100) from Leoch with a 15W mono-crystalline solar power panel from Instapark. While lead acid
+
iGEM competition is a premiere undergraduate synthetic biology competition founded in MIT. It provides platform for high school and university students to gain experience on synthetic biology. Because of the growing number of teams, regional jamboree was established. In 2011 and 2012, the iGEM Asia Jamboree was held in the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). The 2013 iGEM Asia Jamboree will take place in the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).   
-
batteries have the highest charge time and the lowest specific energy density, they are by far the
+
<br><br>
-
most reliable and durable batteries. Commonly used in boats and in conjunction with solar systems,
+
<center><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/6/61/Hongkong_events_related_to_synthetic_biology_in_hongkong2.png">
-
they are reliably sealed, well characterized, and easy to charge and operate with microcontrollers and
+
<br></center>
-
other complex circuitry. With a wide operating temperature, the model is also insensitive to occasional
+
In previous iGEM Asia Jamborees, there were participants from various countries and regions including China, Japan, Australia, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, South Korea, Hong Kong, India and Kazakhstan. Students from all around Asia gathered to share their projects to other students and instructors. A judge panel evaluated each project and selected the outstanding projects to be shared in the iGEM Championship that took place in MIT.<br>
-
deep discharge and has a high charge acceptance, key features for unpredictable solar recharge conditions
+
-
in the field. It is shock and vibration resistant and can be used in any orientation. Out of all the proposed
+
-
systems, this model also provided the best current output and voltage necessary to power the rest of our
+
-
mechanical and electrical parts. It also came cheap. The maximum current draw of the battery is 0.89A and
+
-
was shipped with a 12V charger controller, which prevents overcharging.
+
-
<br>
+
-
<h5>Materials</h5>
+
-
    We were greatly concerned with the toxicity of some gel lead acid batteries, which is why our initial
+
-
prototype actually did not feature one. However, other less toxic battery systems are not as robust and
+
-
have a smaller operating temperature range, with some prone to short-circuiting. Valve-regulated and  
+
-
tightly sealed, all components of the LPG12-100 are fully recycle and specially designed for outdoor usage.
+
-
The solar power panel has its mono-crystalline solar cells embedded in transparent vinyl acetate behind
+
-
tempered glass with heavy back sheet.
+
-
  <br>
+
-
<h5>Assembly</h5>
+
-
We would like to give a special thanks to Professor Bruce Land, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Electrical
+
-
and Computer Engineering at Cornell, for his advice and guidance. The battery was easily integrated into the  
+
-
chassis of the device without alterations.  
+
-
+
-
</div>
+
-
<div class="three columns">
+
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
-
<div class="row">
+
<div class="row">
-
<div class="three columns">
+
<div class="nine columns"><p id="10"></p>
-
+
 
-
</div>
+
<h3>References</h3>
-
<div class="nine columns">
+
<br>
<br>
-
<h3>Potentiostat</h3>
+
<p><strong>SynBio Map</strong><br>
 +
  <em>Synthetic biology project. </em>(2013). Retrieved from http://www.synbioproject.org/<br>
 +
  <em>Figure:</em><br>
 +
  [Web Map]Synthetic Biology Project. (Producer). (2013). SynBio Map. Retrieved from<br>
 +
http://www.synbioproject.org/sbmap/<br>
<br>
<br>
-
<h5>Requirements</h5>
+
<strong>Participation in the iGEM Competition</strong><br>
-
 
+
<em>Previous iGEM competitions.</em> (2013). Retrieved from https://igem.org/Previous_iGEM_Competitions<br>
-
The potentiostat is used to provide and maintain a voltage potential between the working and reference electrode of the reactors. It also interfaces with the counting electrode to provide a measurement for its current flow. This measurement is recorded and sent to an Android device.
+
<br>
<br>
-
<h5>Inputs</h5>
+
<strong>Biotechnology Industry (Market)</strong><br>
-
<h6>Reference Electrode (RE)</h6>
+
<em>Innovation and technology commission: Technology areas.</em> (2013). Retrieved from http://www.itc.gov.hk/en/area/bio.htm<br>
-
The reference electrode is one of three electrodes in reactor solution. This electrode measures the potential of the solution, which is mostly water with salts and nutrients. The potential measured by this electrode sets the reference potential for the rest of the potentiostat.
+
-
 
+
-
<h6>Working Electrode (WE)</h6>
+
-
The working electrode sets the voltage differential for the reactor solution and causes current to flow through the reactor.. The target potential of the WE depends on the bacteria in the reactor. The calibrated potential should create favorable living conditions for the bacteria. For our Shewanella, we must provide 0.2 - 0.3V above the reference electrode voltage.
+
-
 
+
-
<h6>Counting Electrode (CE)</h6>
+
-
To counterbalance the current injected into the solution, the CE acts as a current sink. As bacteria in the reactor grow, they will generate a different amount of current that will be measured by the CE. The generated current, in our case, is between 0 and ~100 uA.
+
-
 
+
-
<h6>Power Supply</h6>
+
-
We power the system with the 12V battery, and by using an op-amp voltage follower and resistive voltage divider, we define a voltage reference for the system. In this, ground is 6V, so 12V is 6V above ground and 0V is -6V below ground. The +/- 6V references are used as the sources for the electrical system.
+
<br>
<br>
-
<h5>Electrical Design</h5>
+
<strong>Biotechnology Industry Funding</strong><br>
-
 
+
  <em>Innovation and Technology Fund.</em> (2013). Retrieved from http://www.itf.gov.hk/<br>
-
We designed this system using operational amplifiers (op-amps), due to their robustness in different operating conditions in comparison to a passive resistor and capacitor based system; we used LM353 integrated circuits to provide these op-amps. This system into four parts: desired voltage differential specification, reference electrode voltage measurement, working electrode output, and counting electrode current measurement. We base this design from a freely available potentiostat design created by Elliot Friedman and Alexander Hartoto, <a href =”http://people.ece.cornell.edu/land/courses/ece4760/FinalProjects/s2010/esf59_akh75/esf59_akh75/index.html”>available here</a>.
+
  <em>Funding Schemes.</em>(2013). Retrieved from http://www.itc.gov.hk/en/funding/arf.htm<br>
-
 
+
  <em>Innovation and technology commission: funding schemes. </em>(2013). Retrieved from http://www.itc.gov.hk/en/funding/arf.htm<br>
-
<br/>
+
  <em>Figure:</em><br>
-
 
+
  <em>Innovation and technology fund, distribution of approved projects among different technology areas. </em>(2013, June 30). Retrieved from http://www.itf.gov.hk/l-eng/StatView107.asp<br>
-
As seen in the above diagram, the system uses various op-amp configurations to accomplish our task. The desired voltage differential is set using a resistive voltage divider and a potentiometer, configurable for different voltage requirements through potentiometer tuning. This differential is added to the reading from the reference electrode using a voltage summing op-amp. Another op-amp is connected to the reference electrode to act as a voltage follower. This voltage is then inverted using an additional inverting op-amp, with equal feedback resistances to provide no gain. This lets us set our potential. Lastly, we measure the current from the counting electrode by connecting it to two op-amps configured as a non-inverting current to voltage converter. This provides our voltage output for the microcontroller, in the range of 0 to 5 volts.
+
  <em>Innovation and Technology Fund, Distribution of Approved Projects among Different Industrial Sectors.</em> (2013, June 30). Retrieved from http://www.itf.gov.hk/l-eng/StatView104.asp<br>
 +
  <strong><em>創新及科技基金-科技範疇撥款分佈概覽.</em></strong> (2013, June 30). Retrieved from http://www.itf.gov.hk/l-tc/StatView107.asp (Chinese)<br>
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<strong>香港特別行政區政府-創新科技署.</strong> (2013, June 30). <em><strong>創新及科技基金-產業撥款分佈概覽</strong></em>. Retrieved from http://www.itf.gov.hk/l-tc/StatView104.asp (Chinese)<br>
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<h5> Microcontroller Design</h5>
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<strong>Regulation<br>
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The measurement from the electrical design is fed into an Arduino megaADK. This is an analog voltage measurement, so it is converted using an onboard analog-to-digital converter and stored in the device. Using serial communications, the measurement is transmitted via a USB interface to an Android device. We sample this measurement at 125 kHz, constantly sending new information serially.
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  </strong>Yuen, C. (2013, July 12). <em>Hong Kong Agricultural Biotechnology Annual. </em>Retrieved from http://www.usfoods-hongkong.net/res/mns/00184/HK1220.pdf<br>
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  <em>Figure:</em><br>
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Agricultures, Fisheries and Conservation Department. (Producer). (2011, Jan ). Genetically Modified Organisms (Control and Release) Ordinance [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/conservation/con_gmo/gmo_edu/files/Beng.pdf<br>
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<h5> Material Selection </h5>
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<strong>Perception</strong><br>
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  <em>HKSAR the 2013 policy address.</em> (2013). Retrieved from http://www.policyaddress.gov.hk/2013/eng/pdf/PA2013.pdf<br>
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Our components for this system were chosen based on the types of inputs we would receive from the electrodes and the operating range of the device - we also needed to make sure our output could interface with the microcontroller. Since the required voltage differential is specific to the engineered strain of bacteria present in the reactor, we made our voltage divider using a potentiometer to provide variable resistance. This can be calibrated based on the requirements of the device. In order to choose the conversion factor between the voltage output and measured counting electrode current, we also had to depend upon the current range of the reactors, expected to be from 0 to 60 micro amperes.
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  <em>Hong Kong the fact.</em> (2013, Aug). Retrieved from http://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/technology.pdf<br>
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  <em>Press release. </em>(2008). Retrieved from http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200810/10/P200810100149.htm<br>
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We chose a megaADK Arduino development board with an onboard Atmel ATmega2560 microcontroller to process this voltage input. This board provides us an easy Android interface for sending data and includes a 10-bit analog to digital converter, which gives us a measurement resolution of 97.7 nano amperes.
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  <em>Synthetic biology survey report (Hong Kong)</em>. (2011). Retrieved from https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/f/f3/HKUST_Survey_Report.pdf<br>
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  <em>Figure:</em><br>
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HKG. (Producer). (2013). 2013 Policy Address [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.policyaddress.gov.hk/2013/eng/highlights.html<br>
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<strong>Research, People and Organization</strong><br>
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<em>Innovation and technology commission: Technology areas.</em> (2013). Retrieved from http://www.itc.gov.hk/en/area/bio.htm<br>
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<h3>Software</h3>
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<h5>Requirements</h5>
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The method of data transfer had to be easily fixed, and supportive of some long distance information transfer.  
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The first criterion is due to the nature of the biosensor. Since the device would ideally be outside braving the
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weathers for six months, we need it to be quickly replaced. Furthermore, the biosensor had to be able to transmit
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data; it would be inconvenient if someone had to frequently go to the device to check the voltage readings.
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<br>
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<h5>Design</h5>
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<strong>Events related to synthetic biology in Hong Kong<br>
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An Android phone was chosen as the best fit for the project as it satisfied both requirements. Notably, it achieved
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</strong><em>Our memories. </em>(2013). Retrieved from https://2013.igem.org/Asia/Previous<br>
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the distance criterion well – as long as a cell tower was nearby, the information on the phone could be accessed from  
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<em>Synthetic biology 4.0. </em>(2008). Retrieved from http://bien.ust.hk/activities/20081010/SB_4_HKUST_2.pdf<br>
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anywhere with an internet connection. Furthermore, there existed a wide range of support for Android development that
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  <em>Figure:<br>
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did not exist for other platforms. These included tools such as the Apache API, a light weight server interface that
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  </em>(2008). Synthetic Biology 4.0 [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from Synthetci biology 4.0. (2008). Retrieved from http://bien.ust.hk/activities/20081010/SB_4_HKUST_2.pdf<br>
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allowed the project to run more smoothly.
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iGEM logo [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from https://igem.org/Press_Kit</p>
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A server was also designed to partner with the Android device. The server was to use a MySQL table for data retrieval
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and access - this allowed for easy testing and modularity. 
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<h5>Components</h5>
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The choice of materials were generally the industry standard – we used the HTTP protocol to facilitate data transfer
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and MySQL to store the data. For the phone, Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus was chosen mostly because of the third-party support
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found for the phone concerning the Android to Arduino communication.
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<h5>Assembly</h5>
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The code for the Android device was written in Java using a Microbridge project as the method of communication between
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the phone and Arduino. The basic Apache API was used to transfer data to a web server. For the server, the code was
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written in PHP and tested with WAMPserver, a development tool that allowed local hosting of the MySQL tables.
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Latest revision as of 12:33, 28 October 2013

Hong Kong

Overview

In this country profile, all the information was obtained from reliable government and official websites. This profile includes information of perception, regulations, researches, funding, market, events, people and organizations about synthetic biology and biotechnology.

In general, synthetic biology and other fields of science are considered less significant in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong government does not provide much support to the field of science compared to other fields such as business. Moreover, the awareness of bio-safety issues in Hong Kong is not high among the general public. We hope that this country profile will provide readers information about synthetic biology and biotechnology so that more people understand and review the situation of scientific development in Hong Kong

Synbio Map

SynBio Map identifies and locates companies, universities, research institutions, laboratories and other centers across the globe that are active in the synthetic biology research ("Synthetic biology project," ). It is a good tool to compare the development of synthetic biology all around the world. This map was created by the Synthetic Biology Project at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. In this map, 5 entries are located in Hong Kong. Two of them are in the University of Hong Kong and two are in the Chinese University of Hong Kong, while the remaining one is a private company.




Participation in the iGEM Competition

Universities in Hong Kong have been actively participating in the iGEM competition. Since 2008, out of 9 universities in Hong Kong, 4 took part in the competition.

The four universities are Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), University of Hong Kong (HKU) and Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU). HKUST and HKU are the most active participants of the competition. Both of them joined the competition every year from 2008 to 2012. CUHK joined in since 2010, and HKBU participated in 2009 in cooperation with HKU ("Synthetic biology project,").


Biotechnology Industry

Because of the predominance of market forces and source of capital, biotechnology industry in Hong Kong has been growing in recent years. According to the Innovation and Technology Commission, there are approximately 250 to 300 biotechnology-related companies in Hong Kong. They are mainly related to health-care business such as pharmaceuticals, traditional Chinese medicine, health-care products, and medical devices and diagnostics. These companies work on product research, manufacture, marketing and sales ("Innovation and technology," 2013).


Fascinated by the mature business operation environment and close relationship with China, a market with great potential, more international biotechnology companies are attracted to set their offices in Hong Kong. It is foreseeable that biotechnology industry will be much bigger in the coming future.

Biotechnology Industry Funding

Hong Kong government does invest on biotechnology and scientific researches by providing funding even though the amount is relatively low compared to that of the business sector. They also established the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) aiming to upgrade Hong Kong’s technological level and promote innovative ideas so as to increase the competitiveness of the economic activities. It provides the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) which grants various technology areas. According to the report on 30th June 2013, HK$ 7.5 billion (around US$ 970 million) was funded to 3376 projects in different technology areas. Among them, HK$ 462.1 million (around US$ 59 million) was invested to support 223 biotechnology projects. The ITF also granted HK$588.3 million (around US$ 76 million) out of total HK$7.5 billion (around US$ 970 million) to the industrial sector of biotechnology (“Innovation Technology,” 2013).





ITC also provided Applied Research Fund which gave funding support to technology ventures and research projects that have commercial potential. In 1993, the government invested HK$ 750 million (around US$ 96 million) to the funds. However, the fund ceased making new investments in the end of March in 2005. In total, HK$ 28.27 million (around US$ 3.6 million) were invested to the field of biotechnology ("Innovation and technology," 2013).

Regulations for Synthetic Biology

Since synthetic biology is not prominent in Hong Kong, there is no law specifically related to it. Also, the Hong Kong government gives less attention to scientific research itself. In fact, there are laws that only govern the derivative products developed from research. If this legislative trend continues, it is foreseeable that the Hong Kong legislation will consider synthetic biology in more detail when there are more commercialized products that are manufactured from the research of synthetic biology.
Currently, there are only laws related to the genetically modified organisms and guidelines for medical products. In order to monitor genetically modified organisms, Hong Kong implemented the Genetically Modified Organisms (Control of Release) Ordinance and the Genetically Modified Organisms (Documentation for Import and Export) Regulation based on the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which is an international agreement aims at ensuring the safe handling, transport and use of living modified organisms (LMO). Under the ordinance, the importation of LMO to Hong Kong (except for exemptions provided by the exemption notice) with the intention to be released into the environment requires prior approval from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

In terms of bio-safety of cloned animals, according to the Hong Kong Agricultural Biotechnology Annual written by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service, Hong Kong government’s awareness towards risk assessment of cloned animals was not sufficient. Moreover, it is not compulsory to label biotech foods or feeds in Hong Kong. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) in Hong Kong released guidelines for voluntary labeling of biotech foods in 2006 because of the citizens’ urge of informed choices. The guidelines that apply to prepackaged food were constructed by a working groups comprised of members from various sectors including manufacturing, wholesale, retail, consumer groups and government departments. The guidelines mention that it is recommended to include information such as the intended use and presence of animal genes inside a product (Yuen, 2013).

Regulation for medical product is more stringent. If scientists want to apply synthetic biology to develop medical products that have clinical application, they will need to pass all the phases of clinical research. Starting from typical lab test, model organisms test, and finally to human test. Products that pass all these tests are finally allowed to be commercialized.

Perception of Synthetic Biology

Government
Synthetic biology is not a great interest for the government. The 5 major fields in science that the government announced to actively develop are logistics and supply chain management enabling technologies; nanotechnology and advanced materials; and textiles and clothing. Synthetic biology was not included in this category ("Hong Kong the," 2013).


Also, due to the conspicuous achievement of economy and business sector, science is not the major focus of the Hong Kong government. According to the 2013 Policy Address, there are only three plans slightly related to science field. One of them says that the government will provide software and hardware support for the industry, academia and research sectors to foster co-operation and examine the patent system of research and development results. Since development of innovation and technology is elevated to a very important strategic level in the National 12th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong, which has a close relationship with China, will also provide more platforms for scientific research collaboration between the Mainland and Hong Kong. This may help improve the people’s awareness to science and may focus more on the sophisticated field like synthetic biology ("HKSAR the 2013," 2013).

According to the speech during the Synthetic Biology 4.0 meeting by Mr. John C. Tsang, the financial secretary of Hong Kong in 2008, the government aimed to make technology a key pillar for shaping Hong Kong as an advanced knowledge-based society. He also mentioned that since the connection between Hong Kong and Mainland China is very close and China is a potential market of new technologies, Hong Kong would like to play an important role in promoting scientific research in Asia. Moreover, Hong Kong has the advantages of free-flowing ideas, strong protection for intellectual property rights and solid law basis. These can provide a fertile environment for creativity and innovation. Therefore, Hong Kong has the potential to develop innovative science and technology ("Press release," 2008).

Public
The public awareness on synthetic biology of Hong Kong citizens was surveyed by the HKUST iGEM 2011 team. The result showed that 44.48% of the respondents reported that they had heard about synthetic biology. The aspects of synthetic biology that the public was most concerned were the scientific processes and techniques (25%), the possible risks (20%) and the claimed benefits (17%). The moral and ethical issues received less attention (9%). The respondents’ overall impression about all the newly developed technologies and the focused biological technologies were both more likely to be positive, but close to neutral. This probably showed a general conservative attitude towards synthetic biology among the general public in Hong Kong ("Synthetic biology survey," 2011).


Reference: The target of this question was the respondent’s major concern or worry about synthetic biology.

This survey, however, might be biased. The team used the internet to conduct the survey, and therefore the respondents were only the people who use the internet regularly. Reference: The target of this question was the respondent’s major concern or worry about synthetic biology
Scientists
Based on the interview with Professor Albert Yu that our team has conducted, field of synthetic biology is not widely known even among scientist. Only scientists with deeper knowledge in related fields such as systems biology and genetics know about it. This may be due to the fact the synthetic biology is a relatively young field and require understanding and knowledge in multiple disciplines.

Research, People and Organizations

Biotechnology research and development capabilities in Hong Kong
Hong Kong has a large capability for biotechnology development. Its biomedical research is already internationally competitive. According to a study conducted by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park Corporation in 2004, the total number of basic medical publications per year was doubled to about 700 between 1997 and 2002. Around 250 biomedical study of high impact is conducted every year at present. Also, in recent years Hong Kong made great scientific contribution in genomic projects, and in identification of infectious diseases such as SARS and avian flu virus.

This kind of development in biotechnology was probably possible in Hong Kong because universities in Hong Kong are actively participating in biotechnology related research. With excellence in scientific innovation and research breakthroughs, Hong Kong’s universities are considered to be some of the best universities in Asia- Pacific region. In fact, out of 9 tertiary institutions, 6 of them are participating in biotechnology related research and have related undergraduate and graduate courses.

Biotechnology infrastructure
A bioinformatics centre and other buildings with shared equipment facilities are now operating in the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks. They are there to support the development of biotechnology in Hong Kong. These facilities can be utilized by biotechnology companies for research and development purpose. At present, there are around 50 biotechnology-related occupants in the Science Park and other industrial estates.

Events Related to Synthetic Biology in Hong Kong

Synthetic Biology 4.0 meeting at HKUST
The Fourth International Meeting on Synthetic Biology (SB4.0) was held from 10th to 12th October 2008 at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Researchers in the field of synthetic biology from all around the world gathered in Hong Kong to discuss legal, ethical and social issues involving synthetic biology. They also shared their experiences with each other.


Host of iGEM Asia Jamboree
iGEM competition is a premiere undergraduate synthetic biology competition founded in MIT. It provides platform for high school and university students to gain experience on synthetic biology. Because of the growing number of teams, regional jamboree was established. In 2011 and 2012, the iGEM Asia Jamboree was held in the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). The 2013 iGEM Asia Jamboree will take place in the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).


In previous iGEM Asia Jamborees, there were participants from various countries and regions including China, Japan, Australia, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, South Korea, Hong Kong, India and Kazakhstan. Students from all around Asia gathered to share their projects to other students and instructors. A judge panel evaluated each project and selected the outstanding projects to be shared in the iGEM Championship that took place in MIT.

References


SynBio Map
Synthetic biology project. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.synbioproject.org/
Figure:
[Web Map]Synthetic Biology Project. (Producer). (2013). SynBio Map. Retrieved from
http://www.synbioproject.org/sbmap/

Participation in the iGEM Competition
Previous iGEM competitions. (2013). Retrieved from https://igem.org/Previous_iGEM_Competitions

Biotechnology Industry (Market)
Innovation and technology commission: Technology areas. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.itc.gov.hk/en/area/bio.htm

Biotechnology Industry Funding
Innovation and Technology Fund. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.itf.gov.hk/
Funding Schemes.(2013). Retrieved from http://www.itc.gov.hk/en/funding/arf.htm
Innovation and technology commission: funding schemes. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.itc.gov.hk/en/funding/arf.htm
Figure:
Innovation and technology fund, distribution of approved projects among different technology areas. (2013, June 30). Retrieved from http://www.itf.gov.hk/l-eng/StatView107.asp
Innovation and Technology Fund, Distribution of Approved Projects among Different Industrial Sectors. (2013, June 30). Retrieved from http://www.itf.gov.hk/l-eng/StatView104.asp
創新及科技基金-科技範疇撥款分佈概覽. (2013, June 30). Retrieved from http://www.itf.gov.hk/l-tc/StatView107.asp (Chinese)
香港特別行政區政府-創新科技署. (2013, June 30). 創新及科技基金-產業撥款分佈概覽. Retrieved from http://www.itf.gov.hk/l-tc/StatView104.asp (Chinese)

Regulation
Yuen, C. (2013, July 12). Hong Kong Agricultural Biotechnology Annual. Retrieved from http://www.usfoods-hongkong.net/res/mns/00184/HK1220.pdf
Figure:
Agricultures, Fisheries and Conservation Department. (Producer). (2011, Jan ). Genetically Modified Organisms (Control and Release) Ordinance [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/conservation/con_gmo/gmo_edu/files/Beng.pdf

Perception
HKSAR the 2013 policy address. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.policyaddress.gov.hk/2013/eng/pdf/PA2013.pdf
Hong Kong the fact. (2013, Aug). Retrieved from http://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/technology.pdf
Press release. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200810/10/P200810100149.htm
Synthetic biology survey report (Hong Kong). (2011). Retrieved from https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/f/f3/HKUST_Survey_Report.pdf
Figure:
HKG. (Producer). (2013). 2013 Policy Address [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.policyaddress.gov.hk/2013/eng/highlights.html

Research, People and Organization
Innovation and technology commission: Technology areas. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.itc.gov.hk/en/area/bio.htm

Events related to synthetic biology in Hong Kong
Our memories. (2013). Retrieved from https://2013.igem.org/Asia/Previous
Synthetic biology 4.0. (2008). Retrieved from http://bien.ust.hk/activities/20081010/SB_4_HKUST_2.pdf
Figure:
(2008). Synthetic Biology 4.0 [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from Synthetci biology 4.0. (2008). Retrieved from http://bien.ust.hk/activities/20081010/SB_4_HKUST_2.pdf
iGEM logo [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from https://igem.org/Press_Kit

Retrieved from "http://2013.igem.org/Team:Hong_Kong_HKUST/hp/article/hk"