Genetically modified bacteria to help combat muscle fatigue being developed by students

A team of second-year students are taking part in the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM), in which they are required to modify bacteria to fulfil a useful task.

As their entry to the competition the students are developing a proposal for a genetically modified bacterium that will help give longer life to muscle tissue.

They will be conducting experiments in the School of Biological Sciences labs over the summer before travelling to the Giant Jamboree in Boston, in the USA, to present their project to competing teams from around the world.

Team member Amy Evans said: “It was a great opportunity, not only to get some summer lab experience, but also to develop our ideas and work as a team in raising awareness and funds for the project. The fact that the project idea that we have come up with could have major implications in the field of medicine is extremely exciting. I hope that we can start something which can be further developed by future iGEM teams from the University of Leicester or other universities.”

The team is currently raising funds to support their efforts, including a sponsored walk from Market Harborough to Leicester on 24 July. The students are encouraging public support and have set up a fundraising webpage.