Team:Thessaloniki/Safety
Overview
POSEIDON is a cell-free toolkit composed of DNA circuitry able to characterize the binding process between DNA strands and DNA Binding Proteins. Specifically, we manufactured DNA gates that collectively form the circuit through the cloning procedures. As a team participating in the Foundational Advance Track and by using a cell-free system, we designed a project that did not raise any crucial biosafety worries. Regardless the above, we acknowledge the safety as an issue of utmost importance. Following, we describe in detail the safety measures our team followed.
Lab Safety
Our project has been carefully designed by our team members in order to conform to the Basic Lab Biosafety Rules and Regulations. This effort was definitely supervised and guided by our PIs, Advisors and Instructors from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, whose experience and advice were really precious. Furthermore, some of our experiments were conducted in a research center in Thessaloniki. The Center of Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation hosts fully equipped and state of the art laboratories while following strict regulations. The safety training involved an induction in basic laboratory safety equipment, prevention and assessment of risks, procedures used in case of emergency. Additionally, every member received instructions concerning the proper operation of technical devices and the handling of hazardous material. During the wet lab time, we always worked with lab coats and disposable gloves and face masks were worn when required. When using the UV-light, the gloves and a UV protective screen were provided, as well as UV glasses.
Safe Project Design
Having considered the biosafety concerns that recombinant DNA technology displays, we have decided to work with well-characterized organisms and strains, ensuring the absence of novel pathogenic properties. Thus, the only organisms that our team is going to use, limited to the procedures of cloning, are the E.Coli K12 DH5 alpha and XL1-Blue strains, which are classified into Risk Group 1. Our chassis organisms pose no direct threat to human health or the environment do they escape the lab, however the department's waste handling system ensures that no lab waste reaches the environment. Therefore, we estimate that they will not pose any risks to us or our laboratory colleagues.
Biosafety Regulations
However, despite experimenting with Risk Group 1 organisms, our laboratory protocols are carefully designed according to the basic Safety Policies (90/679/EEC, 93/88/EEC, 95/30 EC) and are followed with precision and caution, in our Biosafety Type 2 laboratory. Laws and regulations that govern biosafety or biosecurity in research laboratories in Greece have been established by the Greek government with the supervision of the National Bioethics Committee. These laws and regulations are in accord with the European Parliament's Directives.
Bioethics
As far as the ethical aspect is concerned, we consider there are no bioethical issues raised by our project, due to the fact that it includes a completely cell-free biochemical assay targeted to aid research in biomolecular interactions and molecular mechanisms that are related to severe diseases. Therefore, our project aims at the improvement of research in biology and understanding of its mechanisms, providing valuable knowledge in the general effort to unravel and fight diseases. Our project does not include genetic alterations and modifications in living organisms' behavior through its use, since it is designed to detect and measure interactions between biomolecules.
Biosafety form
Apart from notifying the iGEM committee on our lab methods we wanted to reach to the society and institutes to evaluate our safety mechanisms and teach us responsibility. To fulfill this goal we collaborated with iGEM Athens. We brainstormed in the idea of developing a whole assessment mechanism for an iGEM team to fulfill full evaluation of their work, regarding the safety and security. We established a self assessment approach (iGEM Athens initiative) and an institute/organization -apart from iGEM- assessment (iGEM Thessaloniki initiative). While designing our “Institute/Organization Assessment Form” we draw inspiration from iGEMs Dresden 2017 “GoGreenGuide” approach for the environmental part and followed the guidelines provided by World Health Organization biosafety manual and Stanford University| Environmental Health & Safety Manual.
Combining the two forms we provide any future iGEM team with a functional mechanism to reach the optimal point of safety and security. Below you can download both forms.