Safety/Risk Group Guide
From 2014.igem.org
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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, etc) | RG 1 (NOTE: Other strains of E. coli can cause nasty digestive diseases! Always double check your strain! |
Bacillus subtilis | RG 1 |
Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) | RG 1 |
What is risk group
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
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!