Team:SHSBNU China/Safety

Section Sample

Safety

I. Overview

This year's SHSBNU_China Team is trying to develop a highly efficient, low-cost and modularized biomaterial to decompose synthetic dye, the Biofilm x Laccase system, using the methods of synthetic biology. Here we wish to share our experiences of safety control.

II. Safe Project Design

We considered safety in every part of our project. For example, CotA Laccase, biofilm and the combination of them in a sewage filter. In this filter, PHA plastic, bacteria containing CsgA plasmid or CotA plasmid, laccase, and plasmids from both bacteria should all be considered a potential danger. To prevent the possible escape of these ingredients, improvements on the designing of the filter were adopted.

First, semi-closed container design would form an effective barrier for biofilm coated PHA plastic beads. PHA plastic beads could be replaced and disposed after expiration. It would also be considered as an advantage that PHA plastic, a biodegradable material, is non-toxic and can be decomposed easily.

Second, we planned to add a secondary oxidation step, by treating the sewage effluent by sodium hypochlorite. This step will remove any bacteria or biomolecule such as plasmid and laccase if they got escaped from the filter. The oxidation step has already been proven to be effective by years of use in Hanghua sewage plant.

a. Safe Lab Work

"Haocong Li is doing experimental operation following rules"

"Fangning Luo is doing experimental operation following rules"

According to the requirements of iGEM policy, we performed safely in every experiment followed by some basic regulations as follows:

  • Thorough experiment and regulations should be understood by participants.
  • Experiment steps with any probability of contamination should be performed in a biosafety cabinet.
  • Duplicating a key to the laboratory without permission is strictly prohibited.
  • Wear rubber gloves during all experimenters.
  • Sanitize the lab using UV-light every day.
  • Fire, electric heaters, and microwave ovens should always be monitored by a teacher while operating.
  • All liquid and solid waste containing living organisms must be autoclaved before dumping.
  • The last person to leave the lab should make sure that water, electricity, gas, and air conditioners have been turned off, and doors and windows have been locked before.

    • III. Parts' Safety

    We believe that the DNA parts are safe to human and eco-system because they encode non-hazardous proteins such as SpyCatcher, SpyTag, biofilm, CotA laccase. The DNA parts were safely confined within PCR tubes according to the Parts Registry requirements.