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Lab safety

When in the lab, we followed standard lab safety practices, to prevent contamination or injuries. Work according to the rules, even if you believe there is no apparent risk.

Safety in our lab

1.Wearing gloves, and a closed laboratory coat. Do not take this lab coat outside. If proper precautions are not taken, contaminated clothing may carry infectious materials outside the laboratory and into other work areas. So, it is necessary for each of us to wear protective clothing.

2.Disinfecting the workspace.

3.Following chemical safety procedures.

4.Maintaining a neat and well-organized work environment.

5.Keeping food and drink out of the lab.

6.All GMO related work can only be performed by those people that have permission from the Biological Safety Officer.

7.Clean and sterilize spills immediately.

8.Used pipettes are collected in a disinfecting solution.

9.Glassware and instruments that have been in contact with GMO's have to be sterilized or disinfected before being washed, reused or discarded.

10.Biological waste has to be collected in autoclavable plastic bags, which are autoclaved before discarding.

11.As for the hazardous reagent like acrylamade, we have a specialized zone in the laboratory in order to avoid the contamination in lab .

12.Wash hands with soap and water after work and before leaving the room. Bench surface areas have to be cleaned and disinfected daily. Keep the area clean and organized.

Safety training

Maintaining a healthy and contamination-free work environment is a major priority in the field of synthetic biology. Before starting, each member of Team NAU-CHINA involved in wet lab work received an introductory tour by the laboratory technician in charge of safety. Everyone are asked to follow the Biological Safety Manual.

Research Personnel are responsible for:
  • Complete requirements for approval to work in the laboratory and ensure that all work is conducted in compliance with applicable guidelines.
  • Learn the operating procedures for the laboratory, the potential hazards of the infectious agents in use and emergency procedures.
  • Help maintain the facility in good working condition.
  • Report all irregular conditions to the Principal Investigator.
  • If inexperienced in handling plant pathogen Fusarium Graminearum. receive training and demonstrate proficiency in standard microbiological practices from the Principal Investigator.
  • Perform assigned responsibilities. The operation of the facility is the responsibility of the users.
About project

Safety level we used in this year’s iGEM project

About parts :
1.Cecropin A at its microbicidal dose does not affect mammalian cells and numerous studies have shown that this peptide can be administered safely to animals.
2.The use of plant defensin has been suggested to be a good strategy since the proteins they encode are not toxic to mammalian or plant cells.
About a notable plant pathogen Fusarium Graminearum (experiment):
We have had to think carefully about any risks associated with our work. We want to do the coolest science as safely as possible.
All the experiment involving Fusarium. Graminearum are operated in a bio-safety level 2 lab. Greenhouses wil be inspected periodically to ensure that containment measures appropriate for Fusarium graminearum are rigorously applied.
We must know:
1.Who are the responsible parties and how can they be contacted?
2.How is the area secured? What security is required?
3.How are materials disposed at the end of the experiment?
Measures in place to prevent accidental release of Fusarium graminearum：
1. We have the specialized incubator to do the bacteriostasis test to avoid the potential danger may exist and threat to other engineered bacteria in the lab.
2. Records of experiments in progress must be kept.
3. Best Management Practices--we don’t use F. graminearum to infest grain and carry it out of our lab.
4. To minimize the aerosol production during the liquid culture for (example, YPD and LB culture) being shaked, the loop is allowed to cool in the air or be cooled by touching it to the inside of the container or to the agar surface.
5. After using of inoculating loop, we will sterilize the instrument in an electric or gas incinerator specifically designed for this purpose rather than heating in an open flame because these small incinerators probably have a shield to contain any material that may spatter from the loop or needle.
6. It is good safety practice to open all liquid cultures or hazardous material, as well as the dried ones in a biological safety cabinet wearing gloves and a long sleeved laboratory garment when involving F. Graminearum.
7. When operating, care should be taken not to touch the gloves hands or disperse broken glass into eyes, face, or laboratory environment.
8. If used, turn off UV light, but turn on fluorescent light and blower after each operation, biological safety cabinet must be ultraviolet sterilized and wipe down all work surfaces with 70% ethanol or suitable disinfectant. immediately.