Safety
Our team, adhering to Arizona State University (ASU) policies and the guidance of our advisors, ensured that each of our members received proper training in handling and disposing of hazardous materials. By placing safety as one of the top priorities we upheld standards for a safe environment for our team and the community.
This page is meant to outline the safety precautions taken throughout our project. Our commitment to prioritize safety includes responsible laboratory safe practices, informing iGEM of the use of Human Samples, and evaluating any potential risks and applications for any misuse of our project.
Lab Safety
All of our experiments were conducted in a Biosafety Level (BSL) 2 Laboratory provided by our PI, Dr. Benjamin Bartelle. iGEM members only handled Risk Group 1 Biological Materials for cloning and protein expression.
The EHS (Environmental Health and Safety) training provided by ASU equipped us with the knowledge and skills needed to handle risks responsibly and reduce any potential harm. Wet Lab members were required to complete the training sessions seen below:
- EH&S Lab Safety Training
- EH&S Fire Safety Training
- EH&S Hazardous Waste Management Training
- EH&S Anesthetic Gas Training
- EH&S Machine Shop Training
- EH&S BioSafety/Bloodborne Pathogens
Additional Lab Specific Training:
- Biohazard and glass waste disposal
- Chemical, glass, and tool storage
- Incubators
- Soldering area
- Nanodrop and plate reader use
- Safety shower and eyewash stations
- Fire extinguishers and fire alarms
- Soldering area
- Emergency exits
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Bio Safety
In our project’s design, we used NEB 10-beta, NEB Stable, and NEB T7 Express competent Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains to recombinantly express enzymes. All of the experiments were done in a controlled environment using organisms and parts that conform to the iGEM whitelist.
Our project required the use of sterile human samples (Male AB serum) for the hemagglutination assay. In accordance with iGEM safety requirements, we submitted the necessary check-in form and obtained approval prior to conducting any experiments. All experiments were conducted at BSL 2 Levels using sterile porcine blood and anonymized human serum obtained from commercial suppliers (Sigma Aldrich #H4522). By using commercial blood products, all blood will have been tested by a commercial supplier or come from an FDA approved source before handling. Additionally, acquiring these biological samples does not require IACUC approval or an IRB. Our project does not contain any pathogenic organisms, Risk Group 3 or 4, or environmental sampling.
For gel purification, the team opted to use SYBR Safe DNA Gel Stain instead of the more commonly used ethidium bromide. Ethidium bromide is a known carcinogen and poses significant health risks in humans. SYBR Safe offers a safer alternative by reducing exposure to the highly mutagenic ethidium bromide and eliminating the need for harmful UV light for visualization.
Our organisms are strictly used for in-lab protein production and are never part of the application testing. There would be no genetically modified organisms, and more extensive development would need constant reviews and safety checks before clinical and emergency use.