Safety and Security
Key Achievement
Our team successfully engineered Nicotiana benthamiana to produce PETase, an enzyme capable of degrading PET microplastics. Throughout the project, we ensured that all work was conducted safely, following iGEM guidelines, national regulations, and expert advice. We implemented strategies to protect team members, prevent environmental risks, and minimize hazards. Furthermore, we designed kill-switch systems to ensure that GMO plants do not cause detrimental ecological effects if inadvertently released into the environment.
Introduction
Ensuring safety is a fundamental part of any research endeavor, and our team prioritizes it at every stage of the project. Beyond compliance with regulations, we actively consulted experts to identify and mitigate potential risks, ensuring the well-being of our team and the environment throughout the research process.
Safety in the Lab
We conducted our project in certified Biosafety Level 1 and Level 2 laboratories at the Department of Biochemistry, Science Faculty, Chulalongkorn University. There, we were equipped with biosafety cabinets, an open bench, and a specialist greenhouse. Every team member completed mandatory safety training covering proper usage, safe handling of chemicals and organisms, and emergency protocols.
We primarily worked with Escherichia coli DH5-α, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and Nicotiana benthamiana, all approved under iGEM’s white list. Any additional genetic parts were reviewed and approved before use to ensure compliance with iGEM safety guidelines.
Chemical and Physical Safety
Our experiments involved chemicals such as ethanol, methanol, and trifluoroacetic acid. These are flammables, so we stored them in proper cabinets and wore gloves, lab coats, and goggles at all times.
Liquid nitrogen was used for certain plant procedures. Its extreme cold can cause frostbite or suffocation if misused. To reduce risks, we wore gloves and face shields and followed strict protocols for storage and handling.
Project-Specific Risk Management
Our project focuses on engineering N. benthamiana to produce PETase, an enzyme that degrades microplastics. While this offers great potential benefits for addressing plastic, we considered possible hazards:
- Environmental risks: Accidental, uncontrolled spread of engineered plants outside the lab could lead to unintended ecological consequences.
- Dual-use risks: Misuse of genetic parts or constructs outside the intended purpose.
- Human and laboratory safety: Exposure to hazardous chemicals.
Future Use and Release Considerations
In real-world applications, we hope to create a platform that will lead to a plant-based water filtration system, which will allow for direct bioremediation. In the near future, this would require compliance with institutional biosafety committees and national regulations governing genetically modified organisms. As of now, we aim to increase safety tools leading up to our eventual vision by designing a kill-switch system. If the plant were to accidentally escape the controlled facility, the red light from the sun would automatically induce the plant to self-destruct. More information about the kill-switch and future outlook can be found in the Engineering, Vision and Outlook, as well as Entrepreneurship Pages.
Expert Consultation and Guidance
Our team has received support from professionals at Chulalongkorn University: professors Teerapong Buaboocha and Supaart Sirikantaramas, as well as researchers Kittiya (Gift) Tantisuwanichku and Gholamreza (Chris) Khaksar. All work follows national biosafety regulations and institutional guidelines for practices, PPE usage, decontamination, and biological waste management.
Laboratory Procedures and Waste Management
Waste and equipment that have come into contact with microorganisms were placed in secure plastic bags, sterilized using an autoclave at 121°C and 15 psi for 20–30 minutes, and disposed of according to departmental and central facility guidelines. Hazardous chemical wastes were also contained and disposed of according to safety protocols.
Conclusion
The risks associated with our project are primarily related to personal safety and environmental containment. These risks are mitigated by strict adherence to PPE use, controlled handling of hazardous chemicals, proper waste management, and biocontainment strategies. Our team is committed to transparency, responsible laboratory practice, and ensuring that our project has a positive impact without compromising safety.