Xie Zexiong is a doctoral student in the School of Chemical Engineering and Technology at Tianjin University. On March 10, 2017, Science, one of the world’s top three academic journals, published his latest research results in synthetic biology as its cover paper. Led by Tianjin University (TJU) Professor Yuan Yingjin, TJU's synthetic biology team completed the synthesis of redesigned yeast chromosomes synV and synX with the two studies published in Science (Science 355, eaaf4706 (2017); Science 355, eaaf4704 (2017)) on March 10, 2017. Xie Zexiong completed the long essay "Perfect" designer chromosome V and behavior of a ring derivative (Science 355, eaaf4704 (2017)) as the first author, and contributed to the other research papers.

The Build-A-Genome (BAG) course provides students with a chance to take part in international research projects. BAG is a part of the synthesis of the designer chromosome SynV (Sc 2.0). It was introduced to TJU by Professor Yuan Yingjin in 2012. Xie was among the first batch of students to do this course where he met most of his partners. There are 93 authors of the published paper "Perfect" designer chromosome V and behavior of a ring derivative, among whom 61 are classmates of Xie in BAG. It is teamwork that allowed the research results to be published on the cover of Science.

Xie guided his team to figure out and solve the problems of previous research, which provided much confidence to the Chinese research teams. The original genome design work of Sc2.0 was carried out by Johns Hopkins University. They put forward the principles of designing eukaryotic genomes by using chromosome V as the specimen, and designed an open source software named BioStudio in order to assist researchers to make custom designed genomes. However, Xie and his fellows who were in charge of synthesizing the chromosome V, found some obvious growth problems in the synthetic yeast strains based on the previous design. By randomizing control trials, Xie applied various methods to improve the design and finally developed a quick fixation method based on a growth error in the target bug, Saccharomyces cerevisiae watermark, which took them two years.

Without the seeking truth from facts attitude towards scientific research they would not have achieved that. “No matter who conducted the research, the statistical results are the standard to go by. Once you get them, whether ideal or not, you must accept them and never alter them. It is the same in other aspects of life.” Xie Zexiong said.

Apart from Xie’s research, his personal development also contributed to his achievements. When he was a middle school student, he decided to choose biology as his major. In 2008, he was enrolled at TJU as a top student from his county, majoring in bioengineering. When he graduated, he was admitted directly for his doctoral study. Winning a government sponsorship, he went to the USA for education, where he experienced many cultural differences.

Xie Zexiong said, “I’m not a workaholic. I’m just crazy when I’m working.” Being meticulous in work and living a high-standard life are not in conflict. Xie likes photographing and reading during his extracurricular time. Thanks to his hobbies, he can record the beauty of daily life and meditate on life. When he was a junior, his supervisor, Professor Yuan Yingjin suggested that they should browse broadly, so they could know what others do when they are in trouble, and then would be ready for the scientific research. “I think I’m lucky, because it’s fortunate for a person in his twenties to have people guide his progress. As for me, I will devote myself to scientific research to strive for a better life and a better homeland for us all. I will be satisfied with that even though the contribution may be trivial,” Xie said.