Attributions
- All team members have completed comprehensive
laboratory safety
training, including a dedicated course on safety
practices and regulations
provided by our university. This training covers:
- Laboratory hazards and
identification
- Biological, chemical, fire, and
electrical safety and
handling
- Personal protective equipment
- Hazardous waste management
- Incident reporting and record
keeping
- Our university and college have established
strict safety
regulations that we follow (see links below):
- [University Laboratory Safety
Regulations]
(https://lab.hubu.edu.cn/info/1028/2172.htm)
- [College of Chemistry and Materials
Science Safety
Regulations]
(https://chemmat.hubu.edu.cn/info/1090/1414.htm)
- We have attached photos showing the training
sessions and the
implementation of safety protocols.
"The images above depict our training in strict safety regulations and the implementation of safety protocols, conducted by Professors Shengchun Li and Zhifan Yang, Senior Technician Sheng Yang, and Professor Haimou Zhang."
- Our instructors and senior students have
conducted special
sessions to discuss data security, including:
- Information security and network
security policies (see
link below):
- [Information Security
Policy]
(https://xxh.hudazx.edu.cn/info/1064/1115.htm)
- We have attached photos showing the training
sessions and the
implementation of safety protocols.
- We have implemented strict protocols for
handling and disposing
of transgenic plants. All plant materials are rendered
biologically
inactive through autoclaving before final disposal.
(Photos attached.)
- To prevent S. litura escape
into the environment:
- We have a dedicated insect-rearing
room equipped with
secure, enclosed containers to house the insects.
"We have a dedicated Insect Rearing Chamber equipped with secure, enclosed containers to house the insects and prevent any escape. Attached are photos of our isolation facilities, rearing methods, and experimental setups."
- During experimental procedures, we use specialized
cages or containers
to prevent any escape.
- All waste materials, including dead
insects, are disposed
of according to our established decontamination
procedures.
- We have attached photos showing the
isolation facilities,
rearing methods, and experimental setups.
- We have detailed waste management procedures
that comply with
university regulations (see link below):
- [University Waste Management
Regulations]
(https://xxgk.hubu.edu.cn/info/1244/2002.htm)
- We have included photos showing the waste
management process,
including the proper disposal of plant materials,
insects, and other
laboratory waste.
- Plants Collection: Carefully collect the GM plant materials, ensuring that all parts including leaves, stems, and roots are included.
- Autoclave bag: Put the plant materials into an autoclave bag.
- Sealing: Securely seal the autoclave bag to prevent any leakage or exposure to the environment during the sterilization process.
- Equipment Setup: Ensure that the autoclave is in good working condition and properly calibrated. An autoclave is a device used for sterilization using saturated steam under pressure.
- Loading: Load the sealed containers into the autoclave chamber. Avoid overloading the autoclave to ensure proper steam circulation and even temperature distribution.
- Temperature and Pressure Settings: Set the autoclave to reach an internal temperature of 121 degrees Celsius (249.8 degrees Fahrenheit) with a corresponding pressure of approximately 15 pounds per square inch (psi).
- Cycle Duration: The sterilization cycle typically lasts for a minimum of 20 minutes. However, the duration may vary based on the volume and type of plant materials being sterilized.
- Monitoring: Continuously monitor the temperature and pressure throughout the sterilization process to ensure that the conditions are maintained within the specified range.
- Venting: After the sterilization cycle is complete, allow the autoclave to cool down naturally. Do not manually vent the autoclave as this could result in uneven cooling and potentially compromise the sterility.
- Unloading: Once the autoclave has cooled down to a safe temperature, carefully unload the containers from the autoclave.
- Disposal: Treat the sterilized plant material as biohazardous waste and dispose of it according to local regulations and guidelines. This might involve incineration or deep burial.
- Documentation: Record the details of the sterilization process, including the date, time, temperature, pressure, and duration. This documentation is important for regulatory compliance and traceability.
By following these steps, we can effectively sterilize the genetically modified plants at 121 degrees Celsius to ensure that they are completely killed and will not inadvertently enter the environment. This process is crucial for maintaining biosafety and preventing unintended ecological impacts.
- Each team member has specific roles and
responsibilities, which
are outlined in our project wiki under the
"Attribution" section (Link to
Attribution section: [Wiki Attribution Section]
(https://2024.igem.wiki/hubu-china/attributions).
- We have ensured that all team members,
especially those directly
involved in experimental work, have received
comprehensive training
tailored to their specific tasks.
- We are currently working on the final version
of the safety form,
which will be more complete and address all the issues
raised during the
review.
- We will ensure that all required check-in
forms have been
submitted according to the whitelist.
- Our answers will clearly distinguish between
potential future
work and the experiments conducted during the iGEM
competition.