Team:NDNF China/Human Practices

Preliminary research

We designed a number of human practice events to generated positive feedback on the establishment of our project and prompted optimization of it.

Advice for our project

When we first began the program, we encountered many difficulties. Although we have previously taken near-professional level courses on synthetic biology and practiced the techniques. We still lack knowledge regarding applications and difficulties in the industry. Literature analysis and traditional means of learning cannot satisfy our needs and firsthand experience is required.

Fankang Meng： PhD in Synthetic Biology at Imperial College London, United Kingdom

Our tutor Fankang Meng provided us with valuable knowledge based on his own first-hand experiences making bio-products. After a 30 minute long conversation, we gained a considerable amount of knowledge on synthetic biology on the field. We learned that contamination and possible escape are the key factors in the application of synthetic biology, providing us with a potential focus in later development of our program.

Public survey

The goal of the project (this suevey) is to help synthetic biology get out of the laboratory and make important contributions in practical applications. First, we analyzed the limitations of synthetic biology in daily life through questionnaires and public surveys.

Our survey included 15 multiple choice questions, which were designed to measure the public's knowledge on synthetic biology and their opinion concerning bio-products in general and our products in specific.

The conclusion are as the following:

  1. - The general public have limited knowlege on biosafety, and many people are unaware of the close relationship between biosafety and their daily lives.
  2. - Though lacking pre-knowledge, the vast majority of people are willing to increase their understanding of biosafety, among which most people are willing to acquire knowledge through conventional means, which include short videos, WeChat articles and other media methods. On the other hand, about 30% of people want to get it through scientific lectures.
  3. - On legal sectors, most people don’t know what the state is doing to maintain biosafety and the vast majority of them do not understand the products developed for maintaining biosafety.
  4. - On synthetic biological products connected with our subject, the masses are generally more accepting of hydrogels that will not enter the human body.

Specific Safety Rules

Appropriate clothing

- Wear at least one layer of rubber gloves, and if necessary, wear a layer of PE gloves, such as while operating some contaminated reagents.

- Wear lab coats, no rolling up of sleeves.

- Wear below-knee-pants or skirts and shoes that don't expose skin.


Electric safety

- Do not touch plugs with wet gloves or hands.


Hazardous chemicals

All dangerous chemicals in the laboratory are stored in safety cabinets. If we need to use dangerous chemicals, we must ask the instructor and use them under guidance and supervision of the instructor.


Emergencies

We have learned some basic first aid measures for burns, glass cuts or other mechanical scratches, chemical burns, and electric shock. In addition, in case of emergency, we can ask teachers in the laboratory for help.

Safe Organism

In our experiments, we only used E.coli (BL21) (DH5α) (Top 10),Yeast, and B.subtilis (ATCC14580). Despite the fact that they may be responsible for a range of diseases (namely bacterial infections), normal contact, both within and beyond laboratory conditions, would unlikely lead to noticeable afflictions.

Specific Safety Problems

During preparation of the hydrogel material, we used mercuric nitrate, acrylamide and TEMED, all of which are toxic. So, in relevant experimental procedures, we strictly abided by the laboratory’s dress requirements such as wearing protective gloves and masks all the time to fully prevent exposure to toxins, and carried out the experiments in a well-ventilated environment. Furthermore, we strictly followed the safety rules, and avoided contamination of clean areas by restricting handling of the above chemicals to a specified zone.

Our team instructors, who have rich experimental experiences and are well educated, also supervised us when we conducted experiments that involved toxic materials, and gave us necessary instructions to prevent accidents.

COVID Precautions

Our temperature was taken before we entered the building and we also scanned a QR code using "Health Kit" (a WeChat Mini-program that can record your visit to certain public places). We were also asked to wear our masks all the time when we were in the lab, as it is also corresponded to the national and regional pandemic policy.

After a small outbreak in Beijing, only one student could go to the lab per week. Negative COVID test result and letter of assurance signed by parents was also required.