The winner in our biobricks lifeform category is Vijaykumar Meli, who invented a form of rhizobial bacteria that forms a symbiosis with the root systems of rice plants to help them process nitrogen more efficiently. This is an actual, viable lifeform that can be created in the lab using current genetic engineering techniques. As the winner, he'll get an all-expenses paid trip to Hong Kong to attend the fourth annual Synthetic Biology conference with leading researchers in the field. Read Meli's winning entry.

The winner in the "general synthetic lifeform" category is Elliott Gresswell, whose lifeform, a carnivorous, water-going tree called “Blue Forest,” was drawn by renowned comic book artist Kevin O'Neill ("League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" and "Nemesis the Warlock"). You can see that drawing above. Though Gresswell's edible, ambulatory forest can't be created with current technology, our judges thought it could inspire new inventions in the future. Read Gresswell's winning entry.

We had so many terrific entries that we wanted to share a few of our runners-up with you too.

Biobricks Lifeform Runner Up #1
Catherine Aull developed a biological counter that can count in binary. She also impressed our judges tremendously with her lab, which is located in a tiny closet in her apartment. Her entry was partially synthesized in that closet lab (you can see pictures of the lab in her paper).
Biobricks Lifeform Runner Up #2
Jonathan Cline, a software engineer, developed a biological breathalyzer system made of bacteria. Instead of measuring alcohol levels, however, his system measures the metabolic state of "ketosis" in a person's body — this is the state where the body starts burning fat and turning it into energy. Ketosis is induced by the Atkins diet as well as caloric restriction.

General Synthetic Lifeform Runner Up #1
Rizgar Mella, a physics student, developed a software-controlled lifeform.
General Synthetic Lifeform Runner Up #2
Naor Livne designed a parasite our judges dubbed "Spliterphage" and it has one of the weirdest sexual reproduction cycles you've ever read about.

Our judges came from fields as diverse as synthetic biology and videogame design: Stanford synthetic biologist Drew Endy, who helped create biobricks; UC Berkeley biology researcher Terry Johnson (who writes io9's "ask a biogeek" column); Spore game developer Jason Shankel; and UC Berkeley geneticist Michael B. Eisen, co-founder of the Public Library of Science.

Of the contest, Eisen said:

People have been dreaming about what new life forms might look like and do for ever. What I loved about this contest - and the Blue Forest in particular - was that it inspired people to apply the same creative spirit to imagine how we might actually create them.

Said Endy:

It was incredibly fun to explore the thoughtfulness and creativity of the entered designs. There's a lot of work still to do in order to make biology easy to engineer, and to make real the constructive promises, both old and new, of biotechnology. Sharing, competing, and working together via well-intentioned competition helps more people to consider, participate, and guide the process.

Shankel added:

Artificial life is the new frontier of engineering. If Leonardo da Vinci were alive today, this is what he would be working on. And who knows? One or two breakthroughs and he may be alive again sooner than we think.

The winners in our two categories will get either an all-expenses-paid trip to the kickass Synthetic Biology Conference in Hong Kong this October, or $1000 and a chance to have their creature drawn by a cool comic book artist. Find out more below.

There are two categories in the contest, each with their own prize. The important thing to remember is that this contest is about creating cool new lifeforms that are also, in some way, entertaining. So each entry will be judged for plausibility (i.e. whether it is scientifically justifiable), creativity, usefulness, and entertainment value.

Our esteemed judges include synthetic biologist Drew Endy (MIT), evolutionary biologist and PLoS co-founder Michael Eisen (UC Berkeley), Spore game developer Jason Shankel (EA/Maxis), and biology researcher/io9 "ask a biogeek" columnist Terry Johnson (UC Berkeley).

Category One: BioBricks Lifeform
Using the BioBricks registry of standard biological parts, propose a lifeform design that you could conceivably create in a lab. Must include a complete description of how you would make the lifeform, what it would do, and what possible hazards might be involved in creating it. You may design this creature with a team, but only one of you can claim the prize. You may enter lifeforms that you have entered in other contests, but you must state in your entry which contest(s) you've already entered. Your entry should be in the form of a short scientific paper (no more than 3000 words), with illustrations. More points given if you've actually got a working organism.
Prize: All travel and hotel expenses paid trip to the Synthetic Biology Conference in Hong Kong in October, as well as the chance to present your research there.

Category Two: General Synthetic Lifeform
This lifeform can be more creative. Propose a scientifically justifiable lifeform, which could conceivably be created using current technology. Explain how you would create it, what it would do, and hazards involved. Unlike the BioBricks lifeform, this lifeform can be more speculative. It should be science fictional, but must remain scientifically plausible. Your entry should be less than 3,000 words, please. Illustrations and diagrams are a good idea.
Prize: $1000, plus a cool comic book artist will draw your lifeform and you'll get a signed copy of the original art.

DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS AUGUST 25 AT MIDNIGHT PST.

General Rules

1. Send queries and completed entries to madscience@io9.com.
2. On entries, please include your full name, an email and phone number where we can reach you, plus any information about other contests you may have entered your lifeform in.
3. Winners will be announced September 8.
4. All general Gawker contest rules apply.