Laboratory Safety Construction

Laboratories are crucial bases for scientific research, experimental teaching, and social services. Ensuring their safety is of paramount importance. By maintaining laboratory safety, we can maximize the value of our projects. Our team always adheres to the safety guidelines of iGEM and is committed to creating a safe and efficient research environment.

Laboratory Safety Management Regulations

(1) No personnel are allowed to operate alone in the laboratory without the consent of their instructor.
(2) All participants must undergo professional safety training, master necessary experimental skills, and be familiar with the laboratory's safety rules and regulations.
(3) Maintain good personal hygiene habits, especially thorough hand washing, when entering and leaving the laboratory.
(4) Eating, resting, or engaging in activities unrelated to experiments is prohibited in the laboratory. All personnel must wear lab coats during experiments.
(5) Masks and gloves must be worn during experiments and should not be worn outside the laboratory or when touching personal items.
(6) High levels of concentration must be maintained during experiments, and leaving without permission is forbidden, especially when handling hazardous materials. At least two people must be present at all times.
(7) The laboratory should be cleaned promptly after experiments and waste should be disposed of according to regulations, maintaining a tidy working environment.
(8) Unauthorized use of laboratory equipment is prohibited. Any damaged or malfunctioning equipment must be reported and dealt with immediately.
(9) Flammable, explosive, highly toxic chemical reagents, and high-pressure gas cylinders and liquid nitrogen must be used and stored strictly according to regulations.
(10) After experiments, personnel must check and turn off the laboratory's water, electricity, and gas sources. Generally, experimental equipment should not be left running overnight. If necessary, appropriate precautions must be taken.

Safety of Our Project

When conducting bacterial experiments in the laboratory, we strictly adhere to the following safety protocols:

(1) Work surfaces must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before and after experiments.

(2) All bacterial experiments must be conducted in a laminar flow hood to prevent microbial contamination and cross-contamination.

(3) All biological waste must be sterilized by steam sterilization to ensure harmlessness before final disposal.

(4) It is strictly forbidden to take any bacterial strains out of the laboratory to prevent potential biosafety risks.

(5) Disposable gloves and masks must be worn during experiments and should not be touched any equipment or personal items.

(6) In case of accidental contact of any chemical reagents or biological agents with the eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water or saline and seek medical help.

(7) Any laboratory accidents, regardless of size, must be reported immediately to the laboratory supervisor or teacher.

Suicide Mechanism

To reduce the risk of environmental release of engineered bacteria and to ensure human safety, we have designed a suicide switch from two aspects: limiting bacterial reproduction time and a 37°C temperature-controlled death switch. This will cause the engineered bacteria to die automatically after a certain period of reproduction, and we hope to combine it with a temperature control switch to reduce potential harm to the environment and humans. For more information on the design of this module, please refer to "Design".