Team:Edinburgh OG/Human Practices

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Human Practices

Summary

Our project encompasses the characterisation of standardized biological parts that could potentially allow non-model microorganisms to be used as novel chassis. Domestication of non-model strains with high potential for industrial applications, could accelerate their understanding and increase the list of strains that are suitable for bioproduction. However, the domestication of strains of non-model organisms raises both biosafety and biosecurity challenges (e.g. unknown pathogenicity and toxicity), which are enhanced by the fast development of SynBIo and DIYBio fields. Such issues, if are not properly addressed, can be a risk for both users and their surroundings. In order to contribute to current risk assessment procedures, and as a precautionary step for both experienced and non-experienced users, the Edinburgh OG team worked on an accessible, easy-to-use program to evaluate the toxicity of curated secondary metabolites of both model and non-model organisms.

iGEM teams are leading in the area of Human Practices because they conduct their projects within a social/environmental context, to better understand issues that might influence the design and use of their technologies.

Teams work with students and advisors from the humanities and social sciences to explore topics concerning ethical, legal, social, economic, safety or security issues related to their work. Consideration of these Human Practices is crucial for building safe and sustainable projects that serve the public interest.

For more information, please see the Human Practices Hub.

Note

You must fill out this page in order to be considered for all awards for Human Practices:

  • Human Practices silver medal criterion
  • Human Practices gold medal criterion
  • Best Integrated Human Practices award
  • Best Education and Public Engagement award
Some Human Practices topic areas
  • Philosophy
  • Public Engagement / Dialogue
  • Education
  • Product Design
  • Scale-Up and Deployment Issues
  • Environmental Impact
  • Ethics
  • Safety
  • Security
  • Public Policy
  • Law and Regulation
  • Risk Assessment
What should we write about on this page?

On this page, you should write about the Human Practices topics you considered in your project, and document any special activities you did (such as visiting experts, talking to lawmakers, or doing public engagement).

Inspiration

Read what other teams have done: