Team:Toulouse France/HP/Silver
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Why we deserve Silver Medal
HUMAN PRACTICES :
For us, the part Human Practices is an integral part of our project. It allowed us to wonder numerous questions outside laboratory manipulations. In fact, it is necessary to consider questions about the influence of our project in the world. We have so thought important issues relating the place of: women in the science, general ethics and about our project, safety, security, social justice, communication with general public and collaborations.
WOMEN IN SCIENCE :
This year, we are 8 girls by chance to compose the 2016 IGEM Toulouse team. This happy
coincidence has led to think about the position of women in science. Indeed, numerous women have
marked the history by their incredible discoveries showing the legitimacy of our place and giving hope
for the other women. It was important for us to support and to represent women in science with the
hope that equality will be born in our discipline.
Photo Marie Curie
GENERAL ETHICS :
The synthetic biology was born recently and provokes a big step in the scientist world. It
consists of modifying the living and create genetically modified organisms (GMO). The technological
advances are enormous but they should be reflected because effects are not really evaluated in any
case: for the Genetically Modified Plant (GMP), Genetically Modified Microorganisms (GMM) or
Genetically Modified Animals (GMA). We have to become aware about the possible impact of our
manipulations for the environment, the human, animal and plant health. For that, we have contacted
eminent experts to talk about this problematic. For example, we have discussed with Vincent
Gregoire Delory, philosophy professor, working about the living. He has helped us to reflect about
different subtle questions about the living and also about our project as the connection between art
and science.
Photo GMA
ETHICS OUR PROJECT :
Our project is very interesting for us in terms of the connection between the art and science.
But it has leaded us to wonder about the role of the synthetic biology in art. We have
known, at the beginning, it is essential to preserve the Lascaux cave belonging to the World Heritage of
UNESCO and containing an artistic treasure for the Humanity. But different questions have surfaced:
why save art? Is it destined to disappear? Why Human needs art? Moreover, the Lascaux cave is a
particular piece of art, because it is alive: it contains a very complex and dynamic ecosystem. We think
synthetic biology can be a solution to regulate this disturbed ecosystem. Thus, the Lascaux cave is an
alive work of art, it deserves to be protected. It carries a memory of the Palaeolithic man.
The Lascaux cave
COMMUNICATION WITH GENERAL PUBLIC AND COLLABORATIONS:
Moreover, we have became aware of the genereral public's fear about GMOs. In our opinion,
this fear takes its origin from unknowing of the GMO. For us, it is necessary to explain to the public what is a
GMO in order to overcome prejudices. How to create a GMO? What are the advantages and the drawbacks of this new technology? It is
the scientist role to explain these points to the general public. In this perspective, we have set up a theatre
play with a dialogue between a person in favour of the utilisation of GMO and another against it.
We have exposed the definition, concepts and the legislation concerning GMO. We think it is by
explaning the definition, problems, advantages and risks concerning GMO that we can teach about
the real utility of GMO and the danger of the thoughtlessly utilisation.
Pourrais je avoir une photo de la piece de theatre pr ici?
Moreover, we think is interesting to sensitize children about the science. Indeed, we
performed various interventions. First, we intervened at the Toulouse Museum of Natural History for
a day dedicated to bacterial diversity. Many activities (access to a microscope, recipe distribution to
achieve the culture medium, colouring workshop of a bacterium for the youngest, etc.) were offered
to support our explanations. The goal was to explain that microorganisms are very numerous, very
different, suited to all types of environment and they are not all pathogens. We also explained the principle of
intestinal microbiota, and show the importance of hand washing and eating a balanced diet. Later, we
have participated at Exposciences and “La nuit des chercheurs” in Toulouse with the same objective.
These experiments were very formative for us because they have allowed to know the public
opinion about our discipline and GMO, and to discuss with very various people about our project.
SAFETY:
As the danger of GMOs for the environment and the health have not been proved, it is still
necessary to take precautionary measures. As a consequence, we have set up maximum actions in the lab to
avoid the biodissemination of our genetically modified bacterium. These actions had to ensure the
well being of the employees, regarding safety rules and risk prevention.
For example, in our laboratory, the LISBP, safety is supervised by Nathalie Doubrovine who
taught us regarding safety procedures. Thanks to her, we have completed a
formation (with the NEO software) to be aware of the different risks related to our work in the laboratory
and how to react in case of danger. Moreover, we have followed different rules for the using of the
autoclave, the wearing of lab coat, closed shoes, gloves, the good
treatment of wastes, the using of biological safety cabinet, water baths, the dark room for the using
of ethidium bromide, or the using of chemical hoods. Many others precaution rules are classified in a
part appointed Safety.
Chemical hoods
FRIENDLY OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE:
Our prey-predator model is applicable to all type of organisms (animals, bacteria,..)!
We code for these shapes on NetLogo, you can change that easily. You can keep the rest of the code intact if the parameters suit to what you want.
Here is the complete code of our interface.
SOCIAL JUSTICE:
We have also written a part to explain a French principle very interesting for our discipline: this law (Precautionary principle) was written in 1995. In fact, this law stipulate, for a process, when scientist facts do not allow a global evaluation of the risk, for the protection of the environment and health, it is necessary to take precaution measures. In reality, the field of application is larger and also apply for the consumer policy, the European legislation concerning food, the environment and the human, animal and plant health. For the using of GMO, this law is also applied but sometimes is difficult to evaluate the real risk and to take the adequate measures of security. Thus, in practice, scientists take drastic measures to limit the dissemination of GMO because scientists do not know the real impact for the environment. It is thus important to act responsibly, with integrity and full conscience, and to evaluate the risks linked to using GMOs.
Why also pretend to the gold medal !
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