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Revision as of 20:38, 9 March 2015

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Please note that all information on this page is in a draft version.
Safety deadlines and forms will be published by the end of February 2015.


Timeline

  • April-August: Review your organisms & parts against the White List / submit any necessary Check-Ins
  • June 26: "About Our Lab" questionnaire due
  • June 26: "About Our Project" questionnaire due (remember to update when your primary project idea changes!)
  • August 28: Final Safety Form due


What is Safety in iGEM?

iGEM teams follow a high standard of safe and responsible biological engineering. There are three main areas of safety that iGEM teams must attend to: Safe Project Design, Safe Lab Work, and Safe Shipment.


Safe Project Design

Be a responsible engineer! Think carefully about what would happen if you completely "finished" your project, and turned it into a product that real people use. What effects might it have in the real world? Here are some questions to get you started:

  • Who will use your product? What opinions do these people have about your project?
  • Where will your product be used? On a farm, in a factory, inside human bodies, in the ocean?
  • If your product is successful, who will receive benefits and who will be harmed?
  • What happens when it's all used up? Will it be sterilized, discarded, or recycled?
  • Is it safer, cheaper, or better than other technologies that do the same thing?

Consider these questions, and consider how you might modify your project design in response to these real-world issues. Even if you cannot think of a good modification, you can discuss the problem with others, and propose future experiments to find a good solution.

Learn more about Safe Project Design


Safe Lab Work

All biological lab work, even simple experiments, carries some risk to the experimenter. To reduce these risks, iGEM teams should work in properly equipped facilities and use standard lab safety techniques.

Organisms

Protect yourself from being infected by the organisms you work with! Choose organisms from a low Risk Group, and work in a lab that is appropriate for the organisms you choose.

Parts

iGEM Policy Against Releasing Wet-Lab Projects

Learn more about Safe Lab Work


Safe Shipment

Protect your part submissions from delays and blockages! Protect the Registry of Standard Biological Parts!

iGEM teams and the Registry frequently exchange samples of DNA through the mail. Although these shipments are generally not dangerous, they are still governed by national and international laws. iGEM teams should learn how to ship DNA samples safely and legally, and learn which samples should not be shipped.

Learn more about Safe Shipment



Requirements for iGEM Teams

The various safety forms are not ready yet -- thank you for your patience!

Check-Ins

Some organisms and parts present risks beyond what is ordinary for lab work in synthetic biology. As your project progresses, you should consider the risks presented by each organism and part you plan to use. The White List can help you with this.

Before you acquire or use any organism/part that is NOT on the White List, you must submit a Check-In. Check-Ins allow iGEM HQ to help you ensure that you will work safely with these riskier organisms/parts.

"About Our Lab" Questionnaire -- Due June 28

This is a short questionnaire about the laboratory in which you will work on your project.

"About Our Project" Questionnaire -- Due June 28 & update when your primary project idea changes

This is a short questionnaire about your primary project idea. Its main purpose is to encourage you to think about the safety of your project as a whole, rather than focusing narrowly on individual parts. It can also help you think about

You should complete the "About Our Project" questionnaire by June 28, and then revise it if you choose a new primary project idea.

Final Safety Form -- Due August 28

The Final Safety Form is a more comprehensive review of your project, and it must be signed by your team's Primary Contact.



Help!

Visit the Learn More about Safety page!

We've collected resources and tutorials to help you.


Contact iGEM HQ!

Email safety AT igem DOT org any time, with any questions you might have! We are friendly and available, and we will do our best to answer your questions quickly. Any team member can ask a question, whether you are a student, a leader, or an advisor. You should not fear that your team will suffer consequences simply because you asked us a question.


Virtual Open Office Hours

At various times during the summer, we will host Virtual Open Office Hours on Skype. Join us to ask questions, discuss concerns, and meet other iGEMers from around the world!

The schedule for Virtual Open Office Hours will be posted later.

You will need Skype to participate.


Ask your Neighbors!

iGEM HQ is a good resource for safety, but it is not the only resource. You probably have many safety experts right next door to you! For example:

  • Your faculty advisor or team leaders
  • The laboratory manager for the lab where you work
  • The safety office or Institutional Biosafety Committee at your university/institution
  • Members of your local or national government


Who is the iGEM Safety Committee?