Team:Nairobi/Safety

From 2011.igem.org

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==Safety==
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== Biosafety: what exactly is it? ==
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Biosafety is defined as the prevention of
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1) Persons being exposed to organism as well as toxic chemicals that can cause disease
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2) The accidental release of the aforementioned organisms or chemicals
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The major biosafety concern tackled herein is the prevention of unwanted/detrimental effects on the environment caused by the release of genetically modified organisms.
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== Biosafety of genetically modified plants: Why should we be concerned? ==
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The overall reason to test genetically modified organisms before their release is because humankinds total impact on ecosystems services (i.e. ecological processes that benefit human kind)
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from previous introduction of new technologies is substantial (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) 2005).
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It has been learned from the past 100 years of industrial –technological development that all environmentally related technological development came with a price – many of which outweigh the benefits.(Harremoës 2002)
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Consequently all new environmental stresses need to be carefully assessed. (Lövei et al 2007)
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Approximately 70% of the African population is engaged in agriculture. Consequently introduction of technologies such as genetically modified plants must be tested as their effects will directly affect the lives of the majority of the populace.
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To add to the importance of testing the plants is the fact that in tropical countries , agricultural producers depend on ecosystem services (ecological process that human kind benefit from) more closely than farmers in developed countries (Lövei et al 2007)
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== Team Nairobi biosafety approach ==
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Our project this year constitutes the transformation of a fungus to come up with a transgenic biopesticide intended to control crop pests as well as house hold pests. None of its parts is documented to be a toxic substance.
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The biosafety concerns are thus those related to genetically modified organisms (GMOs) intended for biological control.
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The following guidelines [[File:http://www.biosafetykenya.co.ke/documents/ChecklistforInspectionRELEASEOFGMOsinKenya.pdf]]
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obtained from the Kenya National Biosafety Authority[[File:http://www.biosafetykenya.co.ke/frontpage.php]] are what will be used. They provide a sound starting point for any future team that deals with GMOs for biological control.
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They are by no means exhaustive.
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----
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'''Parameters for assessing risk associated with the release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for biological control'''
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Factors to be considered strongly
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I. Effect on species targeted for biological control, parent organism and
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probable effect on ecosystem;
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II. Host range specificities as to whether there will be possibilities of GMOs
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affecting non-target species
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III. Secondary effect on predators and parasite of the target species;
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==Safety==
 
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Please use this page to answer the safety questions posed on the [[Safety | safety page]].
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IV. Effect of secondary metabolites produced by GMOs on other organisms
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in the food chain.
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1.Would any of your project ideas raise safety issues in terms of:
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== References ==
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researcher safety,
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public safety, or
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environmental safety?
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2.Do any of the new BioBrick parts (or devices) that you made this year raise any safety issues? If yes,
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Harremoës, P., Gee,D.,MacGarvin ,M.,Stirling ,A.,Keys ,J.,Wynne,B.&Guedes Vaz,S.(2002):Late lessons from early warnings :the precautionary principle 1896-2000-22.-coppenghagen , Denmark (European environmental ageny ) : 211 S.
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did you document these issues in the Registry?
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how did you manage to handle the safety issue?
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How could other teams learn from your experience?
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3.Is there a local biosafety group, committee, or review board at your institution?
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Lövei Gábor L., Bøhn Thomas , Hilbeck Angelika,(2007)Biodiversity , ecosystem services and genetically modified organisms pp 169-188 in: Traavik Terje & Ching Li Lim ., Eds., Biosafety First  .Tapir Academic Press.
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If yes, what does your local biosafety group think about your project?
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If no, which specific biosafety rules or guidelines do you have to consider in your country?
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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?
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(Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) 2005) Ecosystems and human well-being: our human planet. Island press
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UNDER CONSTRUCTION
 

Revision as of 13:30, 19 July 2011

Contents

Safety

Biosafety: what exactly is it?

Biosafety is defined as the prevention of


1) Persons being exposed to organism as well as toxic chemicals that can cause disease


2) The accidental release of the aforementioned organisms or chemicals 


The major biosafety concern tackled herein is the prevention of unwanted/detrimental effects on the environment caused by the release of genetically modified organisms.

Biosafety of genetically modified plants: Why should we be concerned?

The overall reason to test genetically modified organisms before their release is because humankinds total impact on ecosystems services (i.e. ecological processes that benefit human kind) from previous introduction of new technologies is substantial (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) 2005). It has been learned from the past 100 years of industrial –technological development that all environmentally related technological development came with a price – many of which outweigh the benefits.(Harremoës 2002) Consequently all new environmental stresses need to be carefully assessed. (Lövei et al 2007) Approximately 70% of the African population is engaged in agriculture. Consequently introduction of technologies such as genetically modified plants must be tested as their effects will directly affect the lives of the majority of the populace. To add to the importance of testing the plants is the fact that in tropical countries , agricultural producers depend on ecosystem services (ecological process that human kind benefit from) more closely than farmers in developed countries (Lövei et al 2007)

Team Nairobi biosafety approach

Our project this year constitutes the transformation of a fungus to come up with a transgenic biopesticide intended to control crop pests as well as house hold pests. None of its parts is documented to be a toxic substance. The biosafety concerns are thus those related to genetically modified organisms (GMOs) intended for biological control. The following guidelines File:Http://www.biosafetykenya.co.ke/documents/ChecklistforInspectionRELEASEOFGMOsinKenya.pdf 

obtained from the Kenya National Biosafety AuthorityFile:Http://www.biosafetykenya.co.ke/frontpage.php are what will be used. They provide a sound starting point for any future team that deals with GMOs for biological control.

They are by no means exhaustive.


Parameters for assessing risk associated with the release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for biological control


Factors to be considered strongly

I. Effect on species targeted for biological control, parent organism and probable effect on ecosystem;


II. Host range specificities as to whether there will be possibilities of GMOs affecting non-target species


III. Secondary effect on predators and parasite of the target species;


IV. Effect of secondary metabolites produced by GMOs on other organisms in the food chain.


References

Harremoës, P., Gee,D.,MacGarvin ,M.,Stirling ,A.,Keys ,J.,Wynne,B.&Guedes Vaz,S.(2002):Late lessons from early warnings :the precautionary principle 1896-2000-22.-coppenghagen , Denmark (European environmental ageny ) : 211 S.

Lövei Gábor L., Bøhn Thomas , Hilbeck Angelika,(2007)Biodiversity , ecosystem services and genetically modified organisms pp 169-188 in: Traavik Terje & Ching Li Lim ., Eds., Biosafety First .Tapir Academic Press.

(Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) 2005) Ecosystems and human well-being: our human planet. Island press




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