Team:Tianjin/Safety
During the working time in the laboratory, Team Tianjin realized the importance of experimental safety for team members and environment. Although our project hardly involves complicated genetic pollution or the use of toxic reagents, our members still attach great importance to the laboratory safety during the experiment. Before entering the laboratory, every operator must receive comprehensive training and have an in-depth understanding of the equipment and reagents. In activities such as open day, we also pay close attention to the safety of visitors and guide them to use the equipment of the laboratory correctly to ensure their personal safety.
Microbiological Safety
We used three model organisms in the laboratory: Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Yarrowia lipolytica. They are widely used model organisms without any harmful factors to human body or environment. All the microbes are well preserved after use. We will not let them escape from the laboratory environment.
Wetlab Safety
Equipment safety
① Centrifuge：We should operate the centrifuge under the guidance of the operating manual. The centrifuge tube should be inspected for damage before use and to ensure that the centrifuge tube is sealed during centrifugation. We should balance the weight of the bucket before centrifugation. The empty bucket is supposed to be leveled with sterile water.
② Freezer：We should clean the ice inside the freezer regularly. All objects contained in the freeze should be marked with its scientific name, date of storage and the storage people. We should list all things in the freezer.
③ High pressure steam sterilizer: Before Sterilization, we should confirm the water level in the sterilizer is safe. When sterilized, items should not be put too close. After sterilization, we can open the sterilizer only when its pressure has fell to 1atm.
④ Clean bench: It is forbidden to open the glass baffle during the use of the clean bench. During the operation, we should avoid the movement of his arm to reduce the airflow. After use, the items should be put back in place and the UV lamp should be turned on. Before leaving the laboratory, apply the appropriate disinfectant to wipe the surface of the clean bench.
Operational safety
① Before the experiment, we should read the relevant operation guide carefully to understand the specific operation methods of each equipment and the handling methods of some hazardous chemicals.
② Keep careful operation during the experiment to prevent damage to equipment and unnecessary personal injury.
③ Not eating or drinking in the lab.
④ Wear gloves during operation and avoid contact with skin by any substances that may be harmful.
⑤ Do not take away anything related to the laboratory: including microorganism, culture medium, equipment, etc.
Specific reagents safety
We set up a special room for gel electrophoresis and other similar toxic experiments. All things in this room are not allowed to be touched without protection or taken out. We investigate the hazardous reagents that may involve and the property information is posted in the lab:
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is an organosulfur compound with the formula (CH3)2SO. This colorless liquid is an important polar aprotic solvent that dissolves both polar and nonpolar compounds and is miscible in a wide range of organic solvents as well as water. It has a relatively high melting point. DMSO has the unusual property that many individuals perceive a garlic-like taste in the mouth after contact with the skin.
DMSO is a non-toxic solvent with a median lethal dose higher than ethanol (DMSO: LD50, oral, rat, 14,500 mg/kg; ethanol: LD50, oral, rat, 7,060 mg/kg). Because DMSO easily penetrates the skin, substances dissolved in DMSO may be quickly absorbed. Glove selection is important when working with DMSO. Butyl rubber, fluoroelastomer, neoprene, or thick (15 mil / 0.4 mm) latex gloves are recommended.
2-Mercaptoethanol (also β-mercaptoethanol) is the chemical compound with the formula HOCH2CH2SH. It is used to reduce disulfide bonds and can act as a biological antioxidant by scavenging hydroxyl radicals (amongst others). By breaking the S-S bonds, both the tertiary structure and the quaternary structure of some proteins can be disrupted by it.
Goldview I is a new nucleic acid dye which can replace ethidium bromide (EB). When agarose gel electrophoresis was used to detect DNA, GoldView I combined with nucleic acid produced strong fluorescence signal. Its sensitivity was similar to that of EB, and the method used was exactly the sameGoldview I is a fluorescent pigment with 488nm excitation filter and 515nm blocking filter. It's a little irritating to the skin.