In-Lab Safety
The Baltimore Underground Science Space, the lab we use to do our research, is a BSL-1 lab. As such, we took the the appropriate safety measures. We wore gloves and lab coats whenever we were in lab, as well as using goggles when appropriate. Due to the relatively low danger of working with bacteria, as well as a lower worry for contamination, we worked out on the bench, instead of in a fume hood. Whenever we finished with bacteria, we made sure to bleach them for at least 10 minutes to guarantee cell death.
Experimental Concerns
Obviously our project has the potential to be extremely dangerous if something were to go awry. However, we have addressed these concerns through a number of ways. First, we were using the K-12 strain of E. Coli, which is well known for being a safe bacteria. Second, we have modeled the appropriate time the bacteria needed to express MAFF, so we can have an exact time frame for how long we need the bacteria alive. Finally, we have implemented a killswitch that will guarantee cell death, no matter what.
