NAU-CHINA always prioritizes the safety of experiments. When planning and experimenting, we will definitely conduct strict risk assessments for all steps. It is vital that scientific research is carried out safely to protect those who work in the lab as well as wider communities.

Just like our predecessors, before starting our wet lab work, all members of NAU-CHINA wet lab team members have received laboratory safety training from our experimental directors. This year, our project were carried out mainly in a laboratory classified as biosafety level 2. The equipments used in the laboratory, work space, reagent management are all in accordance with the relevant rules of iGEM Safety.

Advances in biological life sciences and biotechnology hold great promise for our future, but these same technologies can also possess the capacity to be used in ways that harm us. Therefore, ensuring the safe conduct of scientific research is crucial for protecting both laboratory staff and the broader community.

We received general laboratory safety and safety training: showing us the location of safe showers, eyewashes, spills and hydrants, and emergency evacuation routes. Besides, we have received guidance on appropriate waste sorting, autoclaving and hazardous chemical waste programs.

Before we enter the laboratory, we must first put on the lab coats, gloves, and masks. We are not allowed to eat or drink in the laboratory, and we are not allowed to wear slippers. UV-resistant laboratory goggles must be worn when experimenting with harmful UV rays. In addition, we also have strict regulations on the treatment of experimental waste. All contaminated waste must be disinfected before it can be disposed of. For waste drugs, they are managed by the college.

The entire wet lab members previously worked in a lab with a biosafety level of 1 or 2. Every member entering the laboratory must pass the biosafety and biosecurity exams. Persons who do not comply with laboratory rules will lose their eligibility for experimentation immediately. Most importantly, adequate sleep should be maintained before the experiment.

Air conditioning, professional equipment, and other equipment are regularly inspected, repaired and replaced. We must fill in the registration form before and after using the instruments.

When dealing with new instruments or equipments, the laboratory safety officer (responsible person) demonstrates the correct use and provides supervision to ensure safe and proper execution. In addition, our PIs and instructors will check regularly to correct our mistakes in time.

The strain we selected is Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) from Vazyme Corporation. This is a non-pathogenic engineering strain of Escherichia coli that is close to "WT-wild-type" with less modification. Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) is suitable for high-efficiency prokaryotic expression of genes cloned in expression vectors containing phage T7 lac promoters (such as pET series) and capable to express non-toxic proteins.

Our goal is to produce self-healing module and adhesion module to solve damage issues of soft robots. Everyone had learned about the appropriate method of operation at first. In addition, the source of the self-healing module and adhesion module was synthesized by the company. During the whole experiment phase, we also paid attention not to release the engineered bacteria directly into the environment. Finally, our product was freeze-dried into a protein powder for seal and storage, not using live engineered bacteria. Thus, it could not be released into the environment to cause pollution.