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Safety/Risk Group Guide
From 2014.igem.org
Email safety AT igem DOT org!
This page is under construction.
To learn more about Risk Groups and BioSafety Levels, consult the WHO Biosafety Manual.
Risk Groups
Common iGEM Organisms
| Species | Risk Group |
|---|---|
| Escherichia coli K-12 (and derivatives: DH5alpha, TOP10, etc) | RG 1 |
| Bacillus subtilis | RG 1 |
| Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) | RG 1 |
| Lactobacillus spp. | RG 1 |
Long paragraph about risk groups.
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"Always check your strain!"
A note about E. coli K-12
Escherichia coli is the most commonly used bacterium in molecular biology. E. coli bacteria naturally live inside the human digestive system. We scientists are used to thinking of E. coli as "safe" and even "boring", but many strains of E. coli cause terrible diseases! Famous strains such as E. coli O157:H7 have caused many deaths. Most disease-causing strains of E. coli are considered Risk Group 2.
E. coli K-12 is a "lab strain". The K-12 strain cannot survive in the human digestive system, and does not produce toxins. Therefore, it is considered Risk Group 1, and it may be used safely in the laboratory. Similarly, the strains derived from K-12 (such as DH5alpha, TOP10, etc.) are also considered Risk Group 1. Always check your strain!
iGEM participants usually use Level 1 labs, because the most common chassis organisms are Risk Group 1. Some iGEM projects use Level 2 labs. Level 3 and Level 4 labs are not used in iGEM.
Different countries may disagree about the danger of some microorganisms, and may assign the same organism to different Risk Groups. Often, this is because the same organism is more dangerous in certain parts of the world. For example, a pathogen that is more deadly in hot climates might be rated Risk Group 3 by countries with hot weather, but the same organism might be rated Risk Group 2 in countries with very cold weather.
How can I find out the Risk Group of my organism?
Reliable sources include DSMZ, ABSA, NIH Guidelines
What about animals and plants?
The four Risk Groups only apply to microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, and viruses), with very few exceptions. For animals, plants, and other multicellular organisms, there are different safety guidelines. Your country and your university will have their own set of guidelines governing experiments on animals and plants. You should consult your advisor, your lab manager, or the authorities at your university.
Some multicellular organisms are very popular in molecular biology. Worms (C. elegans), frogs (Xenopus), moss (Physcomitrella patens), thale cress (Arabidopsis), and fruit flies (Drosophila) have all been used by iGEM teams in the past.
Laboratory Biosafety Levels
Quick Lesson on Biosafety Levels
This "Quick Learn Lesson" will give you a general idea of what the four BioSafety Levels look like. It is prepared by the U.S. Government, so it uses U.S. definitions for each Level. Most countries will use a very similar system, but some details may vary.
Most countries divide biological laboratories into four levels, based on their ability to contain increasingly dangerous pathogens.
The World Health Organization defines Level 1 as the most safe, and Level 4 as the most dangerous. Most countries in the world follow this system, and iGEM follows this system as well.
Note: A smaller number of countries, mostly those that were formerly part of the Soviet Union, use a different system where the numbers are reversed (with Level 1 being the most dangerous). Make sure you know which system your country uses!
