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Interview

We are much honored to have Dr. JD Huang and Dr. JJ Wang as the frontiers in molecular biology research to share some of theirs views on genetic engineering and synthetic biology with us.

Here below are some extracts of our discussion.

HKU-HKBU = HKU-HKBU iGEM team; DR.H = Dr. JD Huang; DR.W = Dr. JJ Wang

xxxxxx Sample questions xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

HKU-HKBU: This year is the second year for our joint-universities team to enter to the iGEM competition. Why you decide to form a team to compete at iGEM again this year?

DR.H: We believe that providing hand-on practicals to students is a much more effective way of learning than just asking students memorizing thousands of things from the book. They will understand and appreciate more when they perform experiments by themselves and applying their knowledges to make something becomes reality. Meanwhile, they will learn more cutting-edged developments in the research field and hopefully to develop their interest to purse research career.

DR.W: Adding to what Dr. Huang have just said, going to the MIT and doing a presentation in front of many experts is a dream to many others. This kind of achievement will be very impressive at one's CV, no matter if they choose to purse Science as their future career or not. We want to provide students with this opportunity to broaden their horizon and interact with many outstanding scientists. We hope to keep this competition as an annual event at our department.

HKU-HKBU: What experiences/skills do you hope our students can gain from this competition?

DR.H: Mainly, we hope the student can learn how to think logically. From brainstorming, planning and performing the experiments, they all requires many patients and logical thinkings. They cannot learn how to think from their textbook but this kind of competition provide an opportunity to sharpen their mind.

DR.W: This kind of competition offer undergraduates a chance to do some research! Many undergraduates do not know what exactly is a research and how it is being performed. We hope they will develop some interests in research throughout the competition. Besides pure experiments, activities such as fund-raising and human practices allows our students to get out of their lab and interact with the community. These associated activities hope to develop their whole-person education at the same time.

HKU-HKBU: How about the importances of synthetic biology. In your professional opinion, does it have a bright future ahead of it?

DR.H:xxxxxxxxxxxx

DR.W: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

HKU-HKBU: As you all know, there are some people out there who go against genetic engineering, such as GM food.They visualize genetic engineering as a dangerous and unethical practice. Do you share the same view with them?

DR.H:xxxxxxxxxxxx

DR.W: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

HKU-HKBU: Now comes to the more community-related bit. As everyone know, Hong Kong is a financial-based city, do you think that the general Hong Kong public know much about genetic engineering in terms of some basic principles and applications ? Or, do they even care about the development of Science in Hong Kong?

DR.H:xxxxxxxxxxxx

DR.W: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

HKU-HKBU: To be honest, many people regard scientists/researchers as some crazy people doing things that no one can understand. In your view, is there really a gap between the science and the public? What can be done to improve this situation?

DR.H:xxxxxxxxxxxx

DR.W: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx