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Here are our answers for iGEM Safety Questions.

Contents 1 Q&A 1.1 Question 1 1.2 Question 2 1.3 Question 3 1.4 Question 4 2 Reference

Q&A

Question 1

1.Would any of your project ideas raise safety issues in terms of:

• researcher safety,
• public safety, or
• environmental safety

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Organisms:

E.coli

1. Risk Group 1 (no or low individual and community risk) - WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual
2. BSL 1 - The list of human to human transmission of pathogenic microorganisms

Scindapsus aureus

1. Risk Group 1 (no or low individual and community risk) - WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual

Risks:

1. Potential pathogenicity to team members since e.coli is infectant and would cause disease when accumulating.
2. Potential risk of the release of modified gene out of the lab and possible pollution of other organisms.

Addressing issues:

1. Suicide system
2. Lab Safety Rules: Good microbiological techniques(GMT)
   General requirements for laboratory biosafety GB-19489 2008

Safety training:

1. WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual
2. General requirements for laboratory biosafety GB-19489 2008
3. Biosafety in the Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories Manual,3th edition CDC/NIH

Accident out of plan:

1. Release of modified gene and possible genetic pollution if the containment procedures go wrong.
2. Release of bacteria and possible health problem of team members.

Addressing issues:

1. Suicide system to prevent genetic pollution.
2. Protection suits for researchers.
3. Medical examination in hospital.
4. Complete sterilization in the lab.

Question 2

2.Do any of the new BioBrick parts (or devices) that you made this year raise safety issues? If yes,

• Did you document these issues in the Registry?
• How did you manage to handle the safety issue?
• How could other teams learn from your experience?

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All the biosafety levels of the parts in our project are BSL 1.

Suicide system

Question 3

3.Is there a local biosafety group, committee, or review board at your institution?

• If yes, what does your local biosafety group think about your project?
• If no, which specific biosafety rules or guidelines do you have to consider in your country?

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No.

WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual

General requirements for laboratory biosafety GB-19489 2008

Biosafety in the Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories Manual,3th edition CDC/NIH

Question 4

4.Do you have any other ideas how to deal with safety issues that could be useful for future iGEM competitions? How could parts, devices and systems be made even safer through biosafety engineering?

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1. Safety level examination of parts and devices in lab.
2. Clear biosafety hierarchy system of BioBrick parts(or devices) and publish the classification on the website of iGem for participants to consult.
3. Suicide system to prevent genetic pollution when release of organism happens.

Reference

1. The list of human to human transmission of pathogenic microorganisms;
2. General requirements for laboratory biosafety GB-19489 2008.