"
Team:GeorgiaTech/Safety
From 2014.igem.org
Safety
View our safety form
Specific Safety Concerns
We must constantly consider the safety implications of our project and how it could affect the environment, as we alter the genomes of organisms to produce novel functions. Understanding that our organism could create potentially harmful methanol and other hydrocarbons during methane remediation, it is envisioned that the bacteria will eventually be engineered with a kill-switch to prevent it's escape from industrial remediation of methane.
Laboratory Safety
Our project involves regular use of powerful UV lights to visualize DNA bands after gel electrophoresis. Antibiotics used in the lab to selectively grow bacteria may be toxic to humans in large doses, and a Bunsen burner may be used on the bench to maintain a sterile environment or to sterilize some metal equipment during procedures involving bacteria.
Chassis Organisms
| Species | Strain | Risk Group | Disease Risk to Humans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escherichia coli | DH5α (K-12 Derivative), BL21-A1 | 1 | non-pathogenic, non-colonizing strains, although they may cause irritation to the skin, eyes, lungs, and kidneys. |
Our team works with E. coli DH5α and BL21 on a daily basis as a tool to selectively grow plasmids and express recombinant proteins respectively. Both of these strains are Biosafety level 1 organisms and can be handled safely in our existing lab space, however precautions are still undertaken to limit user exposure and the release of bacteria and recombinant DNA in the lab.
Recombinant Coding DNA
Our recombinant DNA does not pose a threat to any humans, however it may cause environmental harm if genes for antibiotic resistance or increased gene expression escaped from the lab. Precautions are therefore undertaken to ensure that our recombinant DNA does not leave the lab space.
Our Lab
Safety Protocol
WELCOME TO iGEM 2014!Your team has been approved and you are ready to start the iGEM season!
|
||
Welcome! |
Timeline |
|
|
Visit the Safety Hub to see this year's safety requirements. The Safety Hub is the central page for everything related to safety in iGEM. You can also go there to learn about general biosafety topics, and how to think about the future implications of your project. Edit this page!Please use this page to write about anything related to safety in your project. Your LabUse this section to tell us about your laboratory. Where is it located? What sort of equipment do you use every day? Have you decorated it for the summer? How do you look wearing a lab coat? Take pictures! Show off your space! |
|
|
