Team:NC School of Sci Math/Biosafety

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Lab Safety

• Completed Lab Orientation and Safety course and examination at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Researchers were supervised at all times during bench-top lab work
• Standard PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) including gloves, aprons, and goggles were worn at all times in lab
• Lab Safety Manual was available at all times in lab
• All research was conducted at a BSL-2 lab at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics

Biosafety

While the E. coli we created are genetically modified organisms, they do not pose a great threat to the environment, local or otherwise. The primary application for these bacteria is in closed, monitored systems, such as septic tanks, specific, isolated parts of water treatment plants, or in industry. In all of these settings, it is highly unlikely that the bacteria could ever escape a closed system. However, in the event that the bacteria were somehow removed from this setting, it is unlikely they could cause any harm. The bacteria are based on E. coli that are weakened to prevent survival in humans or outside of a lab setting, as is common practice with genetically engineered E. coli. Because the only differences between these E. coli and benign E. coli bacteria are the fluorescent proteins, and they are weakened to prevent any potential colonization of humans or mammals, the traditional risk of a genetically modified organism is greatly diminished.