BNU 2024 COHORT
The 2024 cohort of Synthetic Biology: From Bits to Atoms brought together 16 passionate students who explored biology through an artist’s lens, blurring the lines between science and creativity. Their projects tackled bold ideas from Perspire Prints, where bacteria was engineered to react with sweat turned clothing into living, wearable art, to Hexis, a futuristic harness concept powered by photosynthetic algae that generates oxygen and glucose. Another standout project, The Plasmid Files, imagined a vibrant isometric video game set in the year 3000, where players recombine DNA to save new worlds. During an immersive 3-day visit to Peshawar, the students engaged in hands-on lab work, thought-provoking lectures, and a lively mid-crit session where they presented their work to a dynamic audience of scientists, artists, and medical students. The experience culminated in a vibrant Bio Meets Art event and, true to Peshawari hospitality, ended with the joyful tradition of sharing chapli kebabs.
Capstone II Exhibit
Prespire Print by Abdur Rehman
The project explores the innovative use of bacteria to create functional and aesthetic patterns on fabric. By engineering bacterial pigments to respond to sweat, the fabric transforms sweat stains into artistic designs. This concept integrates biotechnology and fashion to redefine how clothing interacts with the body, merging science with wearable art.
Bioplastic Bandages Infused with Collagen by Ameerah Faisal
The project develops a biodegradable bioplastic bandage using gelatin and cornstarch, infused with collagen for accelerated healing and beeswax for adhesion and soothing effects. Designed as a sustainable alternative to plastic- based medical products, it combines synthetic engineering with eco-friendly innovation, aiming to reduce environmental impact and improve patient care outcomes
BioCaps: Bioremediation in Action by Ayat Umair
This project develops bioremediation capsules containing genetically engineered Pseudomonas putida bacteria, sourced from water hyacinth plants that thrive in contaminated water. These capsules are designed to detoxify heavy metals, offering a sustainable, eco-friendly solution for water remediation, particularly for environments in Pakistan and similar areas facing pollution challenges.
Spritz by Eman Kaleem
This project develops a self-cleaning spray for clothing. Using engineered microbes to produce enzymes (protease and lipase), it breaks down sweat, stains, and oil, extending clothing wear time without washing. The spray promotes sustainability by saving water and energy while keeping clothes fresh for longer.
BioFlex: Temperature Responsive Clothing by Gull Rukh
The project involves developing an eco-friendly fabric that adapts to temperature or light changes, providing thermal comfort for laborers. I will engineer microbes to produce temperature-sensitive proteins and synthesize spider silk using recombinant DNA technology. The fabric will adjust its properties for insulation or breathability, ensuring comfort in extreme conditions.
HEXIS by Hassan Farooq
Hexis is a product concept that imagines a harness wearable powered by photosynthetic algae. Designed to generate oxygen and harvest glucose, it blends technology and biology into a futuristic design. The focus of Hexis is on branding and storytelling, exploring how such an idea could reshape the way we think about wearables in a speculative future.
BioPortrait of BNU
The project aimed at creating a microbial “bio-portrait” of BNU using fungi collected from the hostel fridge. The project highlights the often-overlooked micro-organisms that are part of the university’s ecosystem, while educating viewers on their growth conditions and the environments that support them.
Bioluminescence Plants by Mahnoor Ahmer
Bioluminescent plants are created by introducing the luciferase gene, derived from fireflies or glowing organisms, into the plant’s DNA. This gene(luc) luxCDABE, produces the enzyme luciferase, which interacts with luciferin, a natural substrate. The reaction emits light, making the plant glow in the dark, offering potential for natural lighting and beauty.
Gradient by Maneeha Shehbaz
Gradient is an innovative sunscreen concept designed for the cosmetic industry, integrating genes and proteins derived from the most UV resistant organisms “Tardigrades”. The formula blends the UV-protective Dsup protein with trehalose sugar, offering both hydration and protection against oxidative stress. Integrating advanced biotechnology with skincare, Gradient offers cellular-level UV defense. This project combines scientific innovation with cosmetic applications, contributing to the development of sustainable and transformative approaches to sun protection within the cosmetic industry.
Air Purifying Bacteria by Mehak Irfan
The project aims to design a bacteria that addresses the growing issue of air pollution, specifically targeting the harmful pollutants, carcinogens, and heavy molecules that are damaging the ozone layer and causing respiratory diseases. I am designing artificial decorative pieces, such as hanging items or streetlights, that not only purify the air but also act as illuminators in the dark. To achieve this, I explored the bioluminescence cycles of enzymes and genes, such as luciferase, to make the substance glow and function as an air purifier while providing illumination.
Scented Textiles by Qazi Abdul Ahad
This project explores innovative textiles embedded with scent molecules using synthetic biology. By engineering bacteria to produce safe, non-toxic fragrances like lavender and citrus, and embedding them into fabrics through microencapsulation, it offers a sustainable, long-lasting alternative to perfumes. The concept merges science, fashion, and sustainability, creating sensory enhancing, eco-friendly fabrics.
The Plasmid Files by Syeda Ummulbaneen Naqvi
An isometric video game where you as a troubled scientist and his trusty sidekick “Bibi iGEM” in the year 3000 as you try to save the world by recombining DNA to create new and modified species . Travel the lands of space and “Earth 4” to source your genes and be the hero!
ECOPHA by Tooba Noor Baloch
The project explores how bacteria can be engineered using synthetic biology to produce biodegradable plastics, specifically polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). These plastics are eco-friendly alternatives to conventional plastics, breaking down naturally without harming the environment.
Fashion Meets Biology: UV-Driven Fabric Innovation by Yalmaz Haider
This project explores creating a Concept of UV-responsive, color-changing fabric using engineered _E. coli_. The bacteria are designed with a UV-sensitive genetic circuit to produce pigments upon light exposure. Encapsulated in a hydrogel and coated onto fabric, this system offers dynamic, sustainable textiles with applications in fashion, environmental monitoring, and wearable technology.
Glow In The Dark Plants: Bioluminescence For Sustainable Urban Spaces by Zubda Tarar
Creating sustainable, glowing urban landscapes, this synthetic biology project engineers bioluminescent plants to reduce energy consumption and pollution. By merging design, sustainability, and biology, it redefines urban ecosystems, promoting eco-friendly innovation and transforming cities for future generations.
