Safety and Security

Safety

Safety is our top priority in all aspects of our project, from wet lab experiments to hardware development. As a high school iGEM team, we are especially mindful of the importance of biosafety and biosecurity. Our safety practices are supervised by Dr. Min Hee Park and Researcher Jooyoung Sim, ensuring that every experiment is conducted responsibly.

We strictly comply with the Laboratory Biosafety Management Regulations established by the KDCA(Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency) and our institutional SOPs. These frameworks guide us to minimize potential risks and to foster a culture of responsibility and awareness in our laboratory work. All laboratory work is performed under BSL-1 or BSL-2 containment conditions, exclusively using risk group 1 organisms (NIH/3T3 mouse fibroblasts). No prohibited materials or organisms outside the iGEM White List are used in our experiments.

Figure 1
Figure 1. Our experiments are conducted in a biosafety-certified laboratory (BLS-1/2) equipped with biosafety cabinets and standard safety facilities

Lab Safety Rules

<Before Entering the Lab>

  • Know emergency locations: Fire extinguishers, safety showers, and emergency exits.
  • Understand hazard procedures: Chemical, fire, and electrical hazard protocols as instructed.
  • Be aware of emergency actions: Disinfection, sterilization, and evacuation.
  • Wear proper PPE: Gloves, closed-toed shoes, lab coats, and safety glasses.
  • Secure hair and clothing: Tie back long hair and avoid loose clothing.
  • No food or drinks allowed inside the lab.

<Conduct During Lab Work>

  • Follow instructions carefully and behave responsibly. Non-compliance may result in removal from the session.
  • Get training before use: Receive detailed instructions from instructors before handling equipment.
  • Check your data twice: Verify entries in devices and databases to avoid errors.
  • Secure the lab: Control physical access to laboratory and storage areas.
  • Leave only when safe: Exit after all experiments are complete and no hazardous procedures are ongoing.

<Hazard & Waste Management>

  • Follow rules: Comply with legal and institutional waste regulations.
  • Check regularly: Review disposal rules often and ensure waste is decontaminated before disposal.
  • Do not reuse: Never recycle chemicals or containers.
  • Report everything: Report all accidents and spills, even minor ones.

<Emergency & Safety Preparedness>

  • Be trained: Learn proper disinfection and sterilization procedures.
  • Know hazard response: Be prepared for chemical spills, fire, or electrical hazards.
  • Use emergency tools: Know how to operate fire extinguishers, safety showers, eyewash stations, and other emergency equipment.

Project Safety

<Overview>

Our project investigates how the NRAS-G12D mutation influences both cell growth and migration within a bone marrow–like microenvironment. To comply with iGEM’s high school safety guidelines, we use NIH/3T3 mouse fibroblasts instead of human multiple myeloma cells. Cells are transfected with a plasmid carrying the NRAS-G12D mutation and compared to control NIH/3T3 cells.

All work is performed in a lab-on-a-chip device containing a 3D hydrogel matrix and porous membrane, designed to mimic aspects of the bone marrow environment. Experiments are conducted at BSL-1 or BSL-2 containment levels using only risk group 1 organisms (NIH/3T3 fibroblasts). No viral vectors, human cell lines, or prohibited materials outside the iGEM White List are used. Laboratory procedures follow institutional biosafety rules, with appropriate PPE, training, and supervision.

Figure 2
Figure 2. Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices used in our project to model the bone marrow-like microenvironment under controlled laboratory conditions.

<Materials & Risk Assessment>

Table 1
Table 1 (Materials & Risk Assessment)

<Potential Risks>

  • Cell culture: Possible contamination risk; only, minor biosafety risk from RG1 cells.
  • Transfection: Lipofectamine handling requires gloves and eye protection.
  • Microscopy & imaging: Potential electrical hazard if equipment is damaged or improperly handled.
  • Pipetting and liquid handling: Potential risk of aerosol generation.
  • LOC device setup: Sharp edges and potential reagent spills.

<Risk Management Measures>

  • PPE: Lab coats, gloves, and safety glasses must be worn at all times.
  • Biosafety cabinets for all cell culture and transfection work.
  • Waste inactivation: All cultures and waste materials are decontaminated (bleach or autoclave) before disposal.
  • Access control: Only trained, authorized personnel in the lab.
  • Accident reporting: Immediate reporting and logging of all incidents.

<Compliance with iGEM Safety Policies>

  • No prohibited activities: No use of RG3/4 organisms, no human samples, no release of engineered materials beyond containment.
  • White List compliance: All organisms and parts from trusted suppliers.
  • No human experimentation: No collection of human samples or medical testing.
  • No environmental release: Engineered cells are strictly contained and cannot survive outside controlled laboratory environments.

<Future Risk Assessment>

If further developed, our project will remain restricted to research laboratory applications only. The LOC system may serve as a preclinical testing platform for cell migration and drug-response studies, with no direct application in humans and no possibility of environmental release.

<Acknowledgement>

All participating members of the Korea-CX iGEM team have received formal safety training, covering the rules, procedures, and risk management strategies described on this page. Each member has formally acknowledged their responsibility to follow these guidelines at all times, and to prioritize safety for themselves, their teammates, and the broader community.