Team:Florida/Safety
Safety
When it comes to working with genetically engineered organisms, there is concern about the potential impacts it could have on the environment if it is released. Therefore, it was imperative that we followed safety procedures and guidelines to ensure a safe environment inside and outside the lab. Anyone who works in a BSL level lab at the University of Florida, they must undergo laboratory safety training in addition to a Biosafety and Bloodborne Pathogens Training. Here are some of the many things learned in the thorough training:
- Wearing proper protective equipment
- Proper Waste disposal
- Fire, Electrical, and Chemical Hazards
- Emergency protocols during emergency situations
- Risk Group System
- Containment
By ensuring all members working in the lab received adequate training, it fostered a safe environment and allowed Team Florida to proceed with the project in an effective manner. The training allowed Team Florida to be more confident while performing experiments in lab, knowing that they were keeping themselves, colleagues, and the environment safe.
Putting our project into a safety prospective, it is of low risk. Particularly ,the non-pathogenic E.coli DH5α is used to maximize our transformation efficiency. This strain is of Risk Group 1 and is the most ideal organism to test our foundational concept. What is of potential concern is the use of the CRISPR-Cas9 technology. There is an unknown risk involved in having these organisms out in the environment as it could disrupt ecosystem integrity and transmit between bacterial organisms. Thus, following containment protocols was key in lab along with utilizing aseptic technique to ensure there is no potential release.
