Safety
Learn how to be safe in synthetic biology!
- Read about Safe Project Design, Safe Lab Work, and Safe Shipment
- Notice the few hard-and-fast rules we have: don't use organisms from Risk Group 3 or 4, and don't release your project into the wild
- Know your local guidelines: talk to your team instructors and your institution's biosafety officers
- Ask for help: email safety (at) igem (dot) org, or join us for Virtual Open Office Hours
- Fulfill the safety requirements for iGEM participation:
- April-August: Review your organisms & parts against the White List / submit any necessary Check-Ins
- Due Date TBD: About Our Lab questionnaire due
- Due Date TBD: About Our Project questionnaire due (and remember to update when your primary project idea changes!)
- Due Date TBD: Final Safety Form due
Welcome to the Safety page!
My name is Kelly, and I'm here to help you with any questions or problems you might have about safety in iGEM.
You can contact me by email (safety AT igem DOT org), Skype text chat (kelly_igem), or Twitter (@Kelly_iGEM).
I also like to talk about Human Practices!
Requirements for Teams
Check-In
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 the iGEM Safety Committee to help you ensure that you will work safely with these riskier organisms/parts.
"About Our Lab" Questionnaire — Due Date TBD
This is a short questionnaire about the laboratory where you will work on your project.
"About Our Project" Questionnaire — Due Date TBD & 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 future applications of your project, and what safety/health/environmental issues would be important to consider.
You should complete the "About Our Project" questionnaire, and then revise it if you choose a new primary project idea.
Final Safety Form — Due Date TBD
The Final Safety Form is a more comprehensive review of your project, and it must be signed by an Instructor or Primary Contact of your team.
Help!
Ask your Instructors!
Your first resource is always your instructors, advisors, and professors. They have experience working in their own lab facilities, and they know how to work with your university to ensure lab safety. Other local resources include:
- The laboratory manager for the lab where you work
- The safety office or Biosafety Committee at your university/institution
- Members of your local or national government
Contact the iGEM Safety Committee!
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.
