Team:NYMU-Taipei/Safety
Safety
Safety is our TOP priority. This year, we used E. coli DH5-alpha and BL21(DE3) for our project. We strictly followed iGEM's Rules and lab safety rules of our school. Before we conducted experiments, we had been given lab safety training and all our protocols were examined by our instructors. All wastes were managed carefully to prevent contamination. We are deeply convinced that as a member of synthetic biology community, we have responsibility for sticking to biosafety rules, not only to protect us, but to protect others.
Biosafety
We used DH5-alpha and BL21(DE3) strain of E. coli, which belongs to BSL-1 organisms. It is a laboratory strain that poses little or no risk of pathogenicity. All materials in contact with bacteria were autoclaved and disposed properly. Though anyone can buy our product if our project is carried out in the real world. However, it has no biohazard because the product will only have the expressed proteins rather than living cells.
Lab Safety
Lab Training
Every member in our team received lab safety lesson and training directed by our instructors.The training included lab emergency prevention and response measures, operation protocols for machines, and biological waste management to make sure we can conduct experiments appropriately and safely.
Lab Work
Our lab is classified as Biosafety Level One (low risk) space. It is equipped with some emergency equipment, such as emergency eyewash, emergency shower, and fire extinguisher. All our protocols were checked by our PI, Dr. Chang, before we began our experiments. We complied with the Laboratory Safe Hygiene Precautions of our school, and conducted our experiments wearing lab coats and rubber gloves, and conducted the experiments in a chemical hood if necessary. Besides, when analyzing the results of gel electrophoresis with UV light, we use the gel imaging device to prevent our eyes from UV light. Whenever we were about to leave the lab, we ensured to wash our hands with antibacterial soaps, put all the things in right position, and lock the door.
