GMO lab safety lecture
What are GMOs?
Definition
Organisms:
Of which the genetic material in changed in a way that wouldn’t happen naturally by
reproduction or recombination
That are capable of multiplying and transferring that material
Kinds of organisms
Microorganisms: bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites etc.
Plants
Animals
Humans
this includes
Living cells of genetically modified animals and plants (cell lines!)
Pollen and seeds of genetically modified plants
What are GMOs used for?
Microorganisms: protein production
Gene knock-out/ addition study their function
Gene addition to replace a defect gene gene therapy (humans)
Gene addition to a plant superior race creation
Etc.
Different applications
Contained use
Laboratories
Greenhouses
Animal facilities
Process plants
Outside containment: in field studies and gene therapy
Market approval
, Possible risks
Risks for employees
Bacteria, viruses, cells cause sometimes disease when ingested mouth, eyes, inhalation, damaged
skin
ML-1/PK-1/PC-1: no health risk
ML-2: sometimes small health risk
Countermeasures: prevent ingestion of GMOs
- Work instructions (VTM, safe microbiological techniques)
- Special facility requirements, equipment and personal protection
Risk of consequences for the environment
When GMOs escape
Forming of new pathogens
Disturbing ecological balance/ biodiversity
Transfer of genes to other organisms: causing diseases/ disturbance of ecological balance
Countermeasures: prevent spreading of GMOs
- Work instructions (VTM)
- Special facility requirements and equipment
- Use of attenuated organisms (organisms that either naturally or by genetic alteration
won’t survive outside the lab)
- Risk assessment
- Policy
Possible abuse of GMOs
Biological weapons: “organisms that can kill or harm people, animals or plants”
Unaltered organism: bacillus anthracis (antrax, spores) / yersinia pestis (plaque, aerosols) etc.
GMOs
- Easier to replicate
- Resistance against antibiotics/ pesticides
- Change in host specificity etc.
Dual use! : weigh risks against results, maybe we should not publish this?
Countermeasures: prevent abuse biosecurity
- Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC, 1975) restrictions
- Nationaal Coördinator Terrorisme Bestrijding en Veiligheid (NCTV)
- Again, weigh risks against results
Important:
- Awareness and report
- Safe storage of GMOs
- Safe storage of data
- Transport to reliable people and use reliable transporters
What are GMOs?
Definition
Organisms:
Of which the genetic material in changed in a way that wouldn’t happen naturally by
reproduction or recombination
That are capable of multiplying and transferring that material
Kinds of organisms
Microorganisms: bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites etc.
Plants
Animals
Humans
this includes
Living cells of genetically modified animals and plants (cell lines!)
Pollen and seeds of genetically modified plants
What are GMOs used for?
Microorganisms: protein production
Gene knock-out/ addition study their function
Gene addition to replace a defect gene gene therapy (humans)
Gene addition to a plant superior race creation
Etc.
Different applications
Contained use
Laboratories
Greenhouses
Animal facilities
Process plants
Outside containment: in field studies and gene therapy
Market approval
, Possible risks
Risks for employees
Bacteria, viruses, cells cause sometimes disease when ingested mouth, eyes, inhalation, damaged
skin
ML-1/PK-1/PC-1: no health risk
ML-2: sometimes small health risk
Countermeasures: prevent ingestion of GMOs
- Work instructions (VTM, safe microbiological techniques)
- Special facility requirements, equipment and personal protection
Risk of consequences for the environment
When GMOs escape
Forming of new pathogens
Disturbing ecological balance/ biodiversity
Transfer of genes to other organisms: causing diseases/ disturbance of ecological balance
Countermeasures: prevent spreading of GMOs
- Work instructions (VTM)
- Special facility requirements and equipment
- Use of attenuated organisms (organisms that either naturally or by genetic alteration
won’t survive outside the lab)
- Risk assessment
- Policy
Possible abuse of GMOs
Biological weapons: “organisms that can kill or harm people, animals or plants”
Unaltered organism: bacillus anthracis (antrax, spores) / yersinia pestis (plaque, aerosols) etc.
GMOs
- Easier to replicate
- Resistance against antibiotics/ pesticides
- Change in host specificity etc.
Dual use! : weigh risks against results, maybe we should not publish this?
Countermeasures: prevent abuse biosecurity
- Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC, 1975) restrictions
- Nationaal Coördinator Terrorisme Bestrijding en Veiligheid (NCTV)
- Again, weigh risks against results
Important:
- Awareness and report
- Safe storage of GMOs
- Safe storage of data
- Transport to reliable people and use reliable transporters
