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Safety

Would any of your project ideas raise safety issues in terms of researcher safety, public safety, or environmental safety?

Our standard assembly system is intended for research and development only and does therefore not pose a threat to public safety. In this project we work with organisms and cells that are widely used in laboratories and generally regarded as safe, namely the E.coli strain DH5α, the fungus Aspergillus niger, and the Human Embryonic Kidney cell line 293 (HEK-293). Altough the cell line HEK-293 is categorized as biosafety level 1 according to (1), all activities involving HEK-293 should be handled under a sterile workbench with protective equipment as if it contained infectious material (biosafety level 2). The cells are categorized as non-infectious and non-toxic, but they express the transforming gene of adenovirus 5. This means that they contain part of a viral genome, but they do not release infectious virus particles. The strain is intended for in vitro research only and will therefore not constitute any potential hazard to others than the researchers working with the cell line (2). Disposal of biological waste can cause an environmental safety issue, therefore the guidelines for disposal of biological waste as defined by the center for microbial biotechnology at DTU was followed to prevent possible release of GMO. If all safety precautions are followed according to all local and federal regulations our project will not raise any safety issues.

Do any of the new BioBrick parts (or devices) that you made this year raise any safety issues?

The new BioBrick parts used in the project will not be hazardous and will therefore have no safety concerns. Although antibiotic resistance genes will be used, it is intended for research and development and therefore constitutes no risk in terms of spread to the environment. To ensure that no spread occurs, the laboratory work will be executed in a biosafety level 1 laboratory according to Danish law (3).

Is there a local biosafety group, committee, or review board at your institution?

In Denmark , specific laws and guidelines exist, that are to be considered when working with genetically modified organisms. These guidelines are based on “Bekendtgørelse om genteknologi og arbejdsmiljø” (“The Order of Gene Technology and Working Environment) from 2008 (3), which is based on guidelines/rules determined by the European Union. At DTU we have a local biosafety group that ensures laboratory safety. They have advised us to work according to standard safety protocols for genetic engineering and molecular biology. The team has completed and passed a safety course provided by a representative from the local biosafety group.

In conclusion the organisms and BioBricks used in this project do not represent any hazard to the researchers, when working in the laboratory or to the public safety. If the safety standard procedure is followed there is also no risk for contamination of the environment.

References

1. the GenTSV §5 Abs. 2 i.V.m.Anhang Teil B, Teil A II, and the statement of the ZKBS (Central committee for Biological Safety, Germany).

2. Material Safety Data Sheet for Human Cell Cultures. CLS • Cell Lines Service

3. http://arbejdstilsynet.dk/da/regler/bekendtgorelser/g/sam-genteknologi-og-arbejdsmiljo-910.aspx