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Team:Waterloo/Safety
From 2011.igem.org
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Safety
The Ribozyme Project is not expected to raise any research, public or environmental safety concerns other than those normally associated with Biosafety Level 2 organisms, such as Escherichia coli (DH5-alpha), which is classified as very low to moderate. The use of this project is primarily reserved for research and laboratory use, therefore, should not purposefully be exposed to the public or environment except after further testing in its specific applications (such as with partricular fusion proteins). Furthermore, the basis of our project is to establish a self-excising sequence (ribozymes), which should limit the expression of any intervening sequences to the RNA level. If the intervening sequence were something of environmental or public relevance (such as antibiotic resistence), the experimental design indicates that the sequence will be removed and, thus, not expressed. This is a relevant contribution of the design in limiting expression to the RNA level, which eases environmental hazard concern upon the accidental release of a GMO containing this biobrick. Therefore, the new biobrick parts submitted should not raise any safety issues.
The necessary facility, equipment and handling proceedures associated with Level 2 Biosafety concerns were met:
- Pipetting aids
- Biosafety cabinets where applicable
- Laboratory separated from other activites
- Biohazard sign
- Proper safety and disposal equipment, including autoclave
- Personal protective equipment, worn only in the laboratory
- Screw-capped tubes and bottles
- Plastic disposable pasteur pipettes, when necessary
The necessary precautions regarding recombinant DNA and microorganisms were observed:
- All waste was autoclaved before disposal
- Researchers practiced aseptic technique and personal hygeine and safety precautions
- Bench surfaces were disinfected with ethanol
- Procedures likely to generate aerosols are performed in a biosafety cabinet
- Potentially contaminated waste is separated from general waste
