All experimental procedures in our project strictly followed the iGEM Safety and Security Guidelines as well as the biosafety regulations of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU). All experiments were performed in certified Biosafety Level 1 (BSL-1) laboratories under controlled environmental conditions, ensuring the protection of researchers, the public, and the environment.
Importantly, biosafety in GenOMe was not limited to laboratory practice—it was embedded in the project’s design logic from the very beginning. We carefully selected host strains, genetic elements, and operational strategies to minimize potential biological, environmental, and ethical risks, making GenOMe both an efficient and responsible genome engineering platform.
Before entering the laboratory, every team member completed NYCU’s comprehensive biosafety training program, which covered:
All members passed written and practical assessments and obtained official certification before starting laboratory work. All experiments were conducted under supervision by qualified NYCU staff to ensure compliance with institutional and iGEM safety policies.
All experimental work was carried out in NYCU’s certified BSL-1 laboratories. Team members followed standardized protocols covering:
To maintain containment and prevent contamination:
Our work exclusively utilized non-pathogenic laboratory strains of E. coli—specifically K-12 MG1655 and DH5α—both classified as Biosafety Level 1 (BSL-1) and widely recognized as safe for educational and research use. No pathogenic, toxin-producing, or antibiotic-resistant strains were involved in any stage of our experiments.
The GenOMe platform was designed to reduce biosafety risks associated with traditional plasmid-based systems:
This design ensures that genetic modifications remain stable, precise, and biologically contained.
All genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were handled exclusively within NYCU’s BSL-1 facilities. Every culture and biological waste—such as agar plates, liquid cultures, and pipette tips—was autoclaved immediately after use to ensure complete sterilization.
All laboratory surfaces and instruments were disinfected after each session to prevent accidental release.
Only a small number of verified working strains were kept under secure, temperature-controlled storage for reproducibility purposes. No living GMOs or genetic materials were released or transferred outside the laboratory at any stage of the project.
GenOMe is designed solely as a research and educational platform for genome integration in E. coli under controlled laboratory conditions. Any future applications beyond this scope would require additional biosafety assessment, regulatory review, and institutional approval.
Throughout the project, our team engaged with faculty mentors and biosafety officers to ensure responsible use of genome editing technology. We are committed to maintaining transparency, compliance, and ethical responsibility—ensuring that GenOMe lowers technical barriers safely and does not promote unsupervised or unsafe use.
By integrating safety principles throughout the design, experimentation, and dissemination processes, we demonstrate that simplifying genome engineering can be both efficient and responsible, embodying the spirit of safe innovation that iGEM promotes.