Difference between revisions of "Safety/Do not Release"

 
 
(14 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 4: Line 4:
 
<div class="column full_size">
 
<div class="column full_size">
 
<h1>Do Not Release Policy</h1>
 
<h1>Do Not Release Policy</h1>
−
</div>
+
 
−
+
<p>iGEM teams often do projects that have an immediate practical application. But <em>within the context of the iGEM competition</em>, wet-lab projects should remain at an experimental stage. In general, iGEM teams should not release or deploy any genetically modified organisms, or the products of genetically modified organisms, outside the lab.</p>
−
<div class="column quarter_size">
+
−
<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2019/e/ef/Do_not_release.svg" height="150px">
+
−
</div>
+
−
+
−
<div class="column three_quarter_size">
+
−
<p>iGEM teams often do projects that have an immediate practical application. But <em>within the context of the iGEM competition</em>, wet-lab projects should remain at an experimental stage. iGEM teams should not release or deploy any genetically modified organisms, or the products of genetically modified organisms, outside the lab.</p>
+
  
 
<p>Any teams that release their genetically modified organisms, or products of their genetically modified organisms, will be referred to the <a href="https://2019.igem.org/Competition/Responsible_Conduct">Responsible Conduct Committee</a>.</p>
 
<p>Any teams that release their genetically modified organisms, or products of their genetically modified organisms, will be referred to the <a href="https://2019.igem.org/Competition/Responsible_Conduct">Responsible Conduct Committee</a>.</p>
Line 19: Line 13:
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 +
<div class="clear extra_space"></div>
 +
<div class="line_divider dark"></div>
 
<div class="clear extra_space"></div>
 
<div class="clear extra_space"></div>
  
  
−
<div class="column half_size">
+
<div class="column quarter_size">
−
<div class="highlight decoration_medium_full">
+
<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2019/1/18/Safety_responsible_scientist.svg" height="150px">
 +
</div>
 +
 +
<div class="column three_quarter_size">
 
<h3>Be a Responsible Scientist:</h3>  
 
<h3>Be a Responsible Scientist:</h3>  
 
<p>There are many extremely complicated risks involved in releasing a genetically modified organism (GMO) outside the lab. Without extensive testing, you cannot know if your GMO is safe for humans and the environment. It would be dangerous, even reckless, to release a GMO without the proper risk assessment and testing.</p>
 
<p>There are many extremely complicated risks involved in releasing a genetically modified organism (GMO) outside the lab. Without extensive testing, you cannot know if your GMO is safe for humans and the environment. It would be dangerous, even reckless, to release a GMO without the proper risk assessment and testing.</p>
 
<p>Also, releasing GMOs is a huge international controversy. Because of this controversy, when synthetic biologists seem to act recklessly, they can damage the reputation of the whole field of synthetic biology. As iGEM team members, you are ambassadors between scientists and the public, so it is important that you be excellent scientific citizens!</p>
 
<p>Also, releasing GMOs is a huge international controversy. Because of this controversy, when synthetic biologists seem to act recklessly, they can damage the reputation of the whole field of synthetic biology. As iGEM team members, you are ambassadors between scientists and the public, so it is important that you be excellent scientific citizens!</p>
−
</div>
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
 
 
−
<div class="column half_size">
+
<div class="column quarter_size">
−
<div class="highlight decoration_medium_full">
+
<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2019/4/42/Safety_activities.svg" height="150px">
 +
</div>
 +
<div class="column three_quarter_size">
 
<h3>Keep Your Activities Legal:</h3>  
 
<h3>Keep Your Activities Legal:</h3>  
 
<p>In most countries, it is illegal to release GMOs or their products into the natural environment without extensive government permits and approvals. Obtaining these permits and approvals would probably take longer than the entire iGEM competition. Instead, you should focus your efforts on producing the best laboratory results. (And, of course, you should not release your GMOs illegally!)</p>
 
<p>In most countries, it is illegal to release GMOs or their products into the natural environment without extensive government permits and approvals. Obtaining these permits and approvals would probably take longer than the entire iGEM competition. Instead, you should focus your efforts on producing the best laboratory results. (And, of course, you should not release your GMOs illegally!)</p>
−
</div>
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
−
<div class="clear extra_space"></div>
 
 
<div class="clear extra_space"></div>
 
<div class="clear extra_space"></div>
 
<div class="line_divider"></div>
 
<div class="line_divider"></div>
−
<div class="clear extra_space"></div>
 
 
<div class="clear extra_space"></div>
 
<div class="clear extra_space"></div>
  
Line 46: Line 43:
 
<h3>What actions count as "release"?</h3>
 
<h3>What actions count as "release"?</h3>
  
−
<p>If you genetically modify an organism in the lab, you may not deliberately release it outside the lab, even inside a "containing" device. You also may not release any chemicals synthesized by a genetically modified organism, even if you purify the chemicals so that no living organisms remain.</p>
+
<p>If you genetically modify an organism in the lab, you may not deliberately release it outside the lab, even inside a "containing" device. You should not release any products synthesized by a genetically modified organism, even if you purify them so that no living organisms remain.</p>
 +
 
 +
<p>It is possible to get an exemption from the Safety and Security Committee to take the product from your engineered system outside of the lab - for example to bring it to the Giant Jamboree. You will need to apply to show your product at the <a href="https://2019.igem.org/Giant_Jamboree/Information_for_Teams/Exhibition_Space"> Exhibition Space</a>. For an example, the <a href="https://2018.igem.org/Team:NUS_Singapore-A/Safety">2018 NUS Singapore-A team</a> worked with the Safety and Security Committee to take the dyes produced by their project outside of the lab. Contact safety at igem.org for more information.</p>
  
 
<p>The following examples should clarify what counts as "release" or "not release":</p>
 
<p>The following examples should clarify what counts as "release" or "not release":</p>
  
 +
 +
<div class="clear extra_space"></div>
 +
 
<table>
 
<table>
 
<tr>
 
<tr>
−
<th>Release</th>
+
<th width="50%">Release</th>
−
<th>Not Release</th>
+
<th width="50%">Not Release</th>
 
</tr>
 
</tr>
 
<tr>
 
<tr>
Line 60: Line 62:
 
<li>Putting your GMOs into the natural environment (soil, lakes, oceans, forests, etc.)</li>
 
<li>Putting your GMOs into the natural environment (soil, lakes, oceans, forests, etc.)</li>
 
<li>Putting your GMOs into a human body, <strong>including your own</strong></li>
 
<li>Putting your GMOs into a human body, <strong>including your own</strong></li>
−
<li>Putting the <strong>products</strong> of your GMOs into the natural environment, or a human body, including your own. "Products" includes any chemicals that your GMOs might synthesize, even if you purify them.</li>
+
<li>Taking the products of your GMOs outside of the lab <strong>without</strong> explicit permission from the Safety and Security Committee. "Products" includes any chemicals that your GMOs might synthesize, even if you purify them. This also covers bringing them to the Giant Jamboree</li>
 
<li>Putting your GMOs (or their products) into a containing device, and then putting that containing device into the natural environment</li>
 
<li>Putting your GMOs (or their products) into a containing device, and then putting that containing device into the natural environment</li>
 
<li>Eating food made using your GMOs (bread, beer, etc.)</li>
 
<li>Eating food made using your GMOs (bread, beer, etc.)</li>
−
<li><span class="red_text">Bringing your GMOs or their products to the Jamboree. This includes any biological material, including synthetic DNA.</span></li>
 
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
</td>
 
</td>
 
<td>
 
<td>
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
−
<li>Submitting part samples to the Registry, according to the <a href="https://parts.igem.org/Help:Submission">submission guidelines</a>.</li>
+
<li>Submitting part samples to the Registry, according to the <a href="http://parts.igem.org/Help:Submission">submission guidelines</a>.</li>
 
<li>Transporting cells or DNA between two labs, in proper packaging, for research or teaching purposes</li>
 
<li>Transporting cells or DNA between two labs, in proper packaging, for research or teaching purposes</li>
 
<li>Releasing software or hardware</li>
 
<li>Releasing software or hardware</li>
 +
<li>Taking the product of your engineered system outside of the <strong>with</strong> permission from the Safety and Security Committee, for example to bring to show it as the <a href="https://2019.igem.org/Giant_Jamboree/Information_for_Teams/Exhibition_Space">Exhibition Space</a> at the Giant Jamboree</li>
 
<li>Performing a field experiment using a wild-type organism <a href="https://2013.igem.org/Team:TU-Munich/Results/Implementation">(see TU-Munich 2013 for an example)</a></li>
 
<li>Performing a field experiment using a wild-type organism <a href="https://2013.igem.org/Team:TU-Munich/Results/Implementation">(see TU-Munich 2013 for an example)</a></li>
 
<li>Disposing of sterilized lab waste</li>
 
<li>Disposing of sterilized lab waste</li>
Line 83: Line 85:
  
 
<div class="column full_size">
 
<div class="column full_size">
−
<div class="highlight gray">
+
<div class="highlight post_item gray">
−
<h3>Are you unsure?</h3>
+
    <div class="details">
 +
    <span class="icon why"></span>
 +
        <div class="title">Are you unsure?</div>  
 +
</div>
 +
 
<p>Email <i>safety AT igem DOT org</i>. We can advise you about whether your experiment counts as "release", and help you think of alternate experiments that are more appropriate for iGEM.</p>
 
<p>Email <i>safety AT igem DOT org</i>. We can advise you about whether your experiment counts as "release", and help you think of alternate experiments that are more appropriate for iGEM.</p>
 
</div>
 
</div>

Latest revision as of 19:12, 23 January 2019

Loading...

Do Not Release Policy

iGEM teams often do projects that have an immediate practical application. But within the context of the iGEM competition, wet-lab projects should remain at an experimental stage. In general, iGEM teams should not release or deploy any genetically modified organisms, or the products of genetically modified organisms, outside the lab.

Any teams that release their genetically modified organisms, or products of their genetically modified organisms, will be referred to the Responsible Conduct Committee.

Instead of aiming toward release, we encourage you to focus on producing the best laboratory results.

Be a Responsible Scientist:

There are many extremely complicated risks involved in releasing a genetically modified organism (GMO) outside the lab. Without extensive testing, you cannot know if your GMO is safe for humans and the environment. It would be dangerous, even reckless, to release a GMO without the proper risk assessment and testing.

Also, releasing GMOs is a huge international controversy. Because of this controversy, when synthetic biologists seem to act recklessly, they can damage the reputation of the whole field of synthetic biology. As iGEM team members, you are ambassadors between scientists and the public, so it is important that you be excellent scientific citizens!

Keep Your Activities Legal:

In most countries, it is illegal to release GMOs or their products into the natural environment without extensive government permits and approvals. Obtaining these permits and approvals would probably take longer than the entire iGEM competition. Instead, you should focus your efforts on producing the best laboratory results. (And, of course, you should not release your GMOs illegally!)

What actions count as "release"?

If you genetically modify an organism in the lab, you may not deliberately release it outside the lab, even inside a "containing" device. You should not release any products synthesized by a genetically modified organism, even if you purify them so that no living organisms remain.

It is possible to get an exemption from the Safety and Security Committee to take the product from your engineered system outside of the lab - for example to bring it to the Giant Jamboree. You will need to apply to show your product at the Exhibition Space. For an example, the 2018 NUS Singapore-A team worked with the Safety and Security Committee to take the dyes produced by their project outside of the lab. Contact safety at igem.org for more information.

The following examples should clarify what counts as "release" or "not release":

Release Not Release
  • Putting your GMOs into the natural environment (soil, lakes, oceans, forests, etc.)
  • Putting your GMOs into a human body, including your own
  • Taking the products of your GMOs outside of the lab without explicit permission from the Safety and Security Committee. "Products" includes any chemicals that your GMOs might synthesize, even if you purify them. This also covers bringing them to the Giant Jamboree
  • Putting your GMOs (or their products) into a containing device, and then putting that containing device into the natural environment
  • Eating food made using your GMOs (bread, beer, etc.)
  • Submitting part samples to the Registry, according to the submission guidelines.
  • Transporting cells or DNA between two labs, in proper packaging, for research or teaching purposes
  • Releasing software or hardware
  • Taking the product of your engineered system outside of the with permission from the Safety and Security Committee, for example to bring to show it as the Exhibition Space at the Giant Jamboree
  • Performing a field experiment using a wild-type organism (see TU-Munich 2013 for an example)
  • Disposing of sterilized lab waste
Are you unsure?

Email safety AT igem DOT org. We can advise you about whether your experiment counts as "release", and help you think of alternate experiments that are more appropriate for iGEM.

iGEM Foundation

The International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of synthetic biology, education and competition, and the development of an open community and collaboration. Visit us at igem.org


hq AT igem DOT org


27 Drydock Avenue
Suite 27E-230
Boston, MA 02210


+1.617.500.3106