High Schoolers Tackle Lyme Disease with CRISPR

In a high school lab, a group of students are using CRISPR to tackle Lyme disease. These students are part of a team competing in an international science competition called iGEM. The team is using CRISPR to detect and treat Lyme disease, which is caused by bacteria transmitted by ticks. The team's goal is to create a simple, kit-style test that can detect Lyme disease in its early stages, when it is easiest to treat. The team is also working on a treatment for Lyme disease using CRISPR. They are using software to model how best to use CRISPR to target the bacteria that causes the disease. The team's work is still in the early stages, but they have already seen promising results. They were able to detect Lyme disease as early as two days after infection, which is far sooner than the two weeks with existing tests. The team is made up of high school students, but they are using college-level equipment and techniques. Their lab is funded by taxpayers and donors, and the student body is majority Asian-American. The team is entirely Asian-American, and many of them are children of immigrants. The team is also a sports juggernaut, and the white iGEM lab coat might be the most coveted uniform of all. The team is competing against teams from around the world, including China, which is a rising power in biotechnology. The team is hoping to win the competition, but they are also focused on the potential impact of their work. They believe that their project could help save lives, and they are excited to be working on something that could have a huge impact. The team is also facing some challenges. They are racing to finish their project before the international competition in Paris. They are pulling all-nighters to write results, code, and build a website explaining their project for the iGEM judges. They are also facing competition from other teams, including a team from China that is working on a new enzyme for treating indoor mold. Despite these challenges, the team is optimistic about their chances. They believe that their project is amazing, and they are proud of the work that they have done. They are also aware that they are being judged on everything from their website to their software. They are hoping to finish in the top 10, but they are also aware that the competition is fierce.