Overview
The IISc Bangalore team understands the importance of safety and
security while working in laboratory settings and so we always made sure
that we gave the utmost importance to the safety of our team members
over everything else. The following safety measures were taken:
Basic Laboratory Safety
The iGEM 2019 lab at the Indian Institute of Science is demarcated into two major sections. The first part of the lab is designated for molecular biology, microbiology and biochemical experiments. It is equipped with three biosafety level 1 cabinets with laminar airflow, a fume hood (for potentially harmful chemical work) and a bacterial waste disposal area. This part is equipped with all the necessary safety equipment like an emergency shower, eye showers, fire extinguishers and first aid kits to be used in case of emergencies.
The latter part of the lab is dedicated to phage work and experiments involving mammalian cell lines. This part of the lab has a biosafety hood, separate incubators and refrigeration units to eliminate the chances of any cross-contamination that might take place.
At the start of our iGEM lab sessions this summer, we were given a lab tour by our seniors who were previously associated with iGEM, guiding us about the general safety rules to be followed. We were introduced to the working of safety showers, hoods, spill kits, eye-washes and fire extinguishers. In addition, we were also instructed about the following waste disposal procedures which we followed throughout our wet-lab work:
(1) Liquid waste (cultures, cell pellets etc.): The liquid was treated with 40% sodium hypochlorite and disposed into a separate container for biological waste disposal.
(2) Plastic waste: All the plastic waste, including used pipette tips, microfuge tubes etc. were allowed to stand in a closed container containing 40% sodium hypochlorite overnight followed by disposal into a container for plastic waste disposal.
(3) Plates: All plates were autoclaved at 121°C for 20 mins to remove the agar as liquid and were washed with detergent and water.
Project-specific lab safety
We worked with B.subtilis (168 A) and E. coli (DH5α, BL21 DE3, BL21) all of which are BSL 1 organisms having low potential risks. Every working wet-lab member was equipped with lab coats, protective goggles and disposable gloves and we strictly obeyed the laboratory rules while performing experiments with these strains. Furthermore, we also wore masks while working with B. subtilis to avoid any respiratory/allergic problems that may arise because of the spores that it produces during stress conditions.
Also, special care was taken while working with ethidium bromide, a mutagen known to cause cancer. EtBr-contaminated gloves and gels were discarded in a separately designated waste container.
