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Team:UQ-Australia/Safety
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'''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?''' | '''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?''' | ||
| - | Current regulations have | + | Current safety regulations have thus far been suffiencient in maintaining the safety of the researchers, public and environment. |
Revision as of 06:11, 15 July 2011
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Inspired by the circadian clock in humans which regulates a number of very important processes, we are trying to replicate this biological clock in a bacterial system. We are aiming to construct a network of genes that oscillates in a similar fashion to the 24 hour system in humans. If we are successful, we will be able to put different genes into our system so that we can make the bacteria perform a particular process periodically – a simple example of this would be to make them flash on and off consistently.
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Safety
1. Would any of your project ideas raise safety issues in terms of researcher, public, and environmental safety?
Prior to starting the experimental parts of our iGEM project, our members went through series of inductions including Personal Containment 2 (PC2) training, Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) & Environmental Management (EMS) induction, and separate inductions of each lab by respective lab managers. Undergoing PC2 training allowed us to work with Genetically Modified materials. This is in conjunction to standard university online general induction training, annual fire safety training, and lab safety training. Student members were supervised in a lab environment when carrying out lab procedures or using lab equipments that required supervision, all with appropriate personal protective equipments (lab coat, gloves, closed shoes, and safety goggles).
To ensure the safety of the general public, we ensure that no materials within the lab are exposed to the public as wells as the environment. When transporting materials from one lab to another, we would transport the materials in a double-sealed container. No personnel without PC2 training were allowed in the lab without supervision. When disposing waste materials, biohazardous waste materials were disposed in the appropriate bin, likewise with sharps. Should an incident occur where others are placed in danger, an incident report is filed and handled by relevant personnel.
2. Do any of the new BioBrick parts (or devices) that you made this year raise any safety issues?
We haven’t yet to register our BioBrick parts in the registry. We anticipate that issues might be raised when transporting biological materials between Australia and Overseas. Imported goods are required to go through the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS). They have rules regulating what is allowed into the country to ensure that the environment is not harmed.
3. Is there a local biosafety group, committee, or review board at your institution?
We have AQIS that regulates what is coming in and out of Australia. There is an Environmental Management Committee in University of Queensland who ensures that all university personnel are familiar with environmental management relevant to them. There is an OHS committee at the School of Biomedical Sciences (where we are based) to ensure the safety of the researchers, public, and environment. This is comprised on Workplace Health and Safety officers (WHSO), AQIS representatives, Workplace Health and Safety Representatives (WHSR), Biosafety Advisors, and Work Injury Management Team.
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?
Current safety regulations have thus far been suffiencient in maintaining the safety of the researchers, public and environment.
