Team:CSL Pittsburgh/Human Practices

Human Practices

Our work is responsible and good for the world because we’ve taken various precautionary measures and have consulted with those whom our work would directly impact. We have been mindful of our potential impact at every stage of this project. This is demonstrated by the following:

We decided it was best to have the part engineered into a plasmid and not inserted into the bacterial chromosome. This serves as a biosecurity safeguard because it ensures that the engineered bacteria cannot survive outside of the laboratory setting. If the bacteria were introduced outside of the laboratory setting (an environment without Chloramphenicol antibiotic), the plasmid would be rejected (disappear) because it would not be selected for with the antibiotic. Furthermore, the plasmid is not permanent within the bacteria or bee, and the bacteria would reject it if it was not needed. In other words, this decision guarantees what happens in the lab stays in the lab.

We gathered information and advice from beekeepers and bee-experts in our city. We met up with numerous representatives from Pittsburgh’s beekeeping community to describe our project and receive feedback. Our team built a prototype of an observational beehive and they provided insight as to how we could improve upon and better utilize use the design, including how we could access the hive’s interior for inspection, have disease prevention and treatment, and efficiently harvest honey. They also gave us tips on how to be safe when interacting with a beehive, such as proper clothing, protective equipment, and beekeeping techniques.

Another reason why our work is good for the world is because our preliminary research can offer other labs a foundation to build off of. Our success in finding an effective mechanism for honeybee insecticide resistance can inspire others to continue the research. This continuation can help bring a solution to Colony Collapse Disorder closer, which would further offer benefits to agriculture and the overall wellness of the environment, which could potentially enable the honeybee population to recover and increase in the future.