General Lab Safety

The laboratory we use is classified as Biosafety Level 1, which means that all the organisms we use for the experiment are not pathogens, and they should present a minimal potential hazard to the lab and environment. All biological wastes will be disinfected before disposal to ensure that no genetically modified organisms are disposed of in the environment.

In our laboratory, the safety of researchers is ensured. Eye washers/baths and personnel showers are placed in an easily accessible position, the fire alarm is installed, the fire extinguisher and blanket are equipped near the door, the vinyl floor and ceiling are inert, and the paint on the wall is easy to clean. There is also an observation board on the door to ensure that the risk of accidents or injuries when researchers enter and leave the laboratory is reduced.

Training and Precaution in Our team

We will ask our participants to read the safety and security rules and policies on iGEM website. Also, Safety and Security training has been given to all students before any experiments. Instructions of experiments will be given to students beforehand. Advice and guidelines from the Faculty of Health Science of the University of Macau are provided.

This allows the PI, Ms. Wai Man Cheong, who has been managing a laboratory in our school for decades, to oversee the iGEM team risk management procedures and receive suggestions from experts should it be outside their range of experience. Risk Assessment forms for individual procedures and guidelines for using chemicals were introduced to all students before the project lab experiment started. All experiments will be performed under instructions or supervision of instructors, technicians, professors, or teachers (all with appropriate higher education degrees).

Rules of our lab

1. In order to ensure that students do not accidentally eat any genetically modified organisms, eating and drinking is not allowed in the lab.
2. Toe shoes and contact lenses are prohibited from entering the laboratory.
3. Liquid biological waste (e.g. bacterial culture supernatant) will also be thermally inactivated by autoclaving. The product can then be treated through normal drains.
4. Sharp waste (such as needles and scalpels) in sharp containers will be heat treated through the clinical waste stream. Biological waste spills will be cleaned with disposable paper towels and the workbench will be disinfected with 70% ethanol.
5. Goggles and strainers are provided to protect the user's eyes from strong blue light.
6. In addition, the safe use of laboratory equipment (such as centrifuges) was demonstrated prior to allowing the use in the lab.

Project-specific biosafety

Our proposed E. coli will be used in the essential oil extraction process. Since all of our extraction work requires temperatures over 100 degrees for long periods of time (steam distillation), there will be no contamination during the extraction stage. However, during the initial treatment and storage stage, there will be no high temperatures. Consequently, regular clean-up and a robust monitoring system will be needed to ensure there is no leakage of bacteria.