Team:Newcastle/other

Would this project require us to change the strength of the filamentous cells in relation to different types of concrete?
What is the strength of filamentous cells? How do filamentous cells actually help to fill up the cracks?
How can repairing microcracks in concrete help to prevent a building collapsing in an earthquake?

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Ethics

Synthetic Biology: Background

Synthetic biology is a new research field that has a big potential in coming up with solutions for our everyday life. However, ethical issues have been raised since the start of development in this field. Here we discuss about the ethical issues that our project would bring.

Biohackers

In this field, there are always people that use synthetic biology in a negative aspect, like producing pathogens to be used as weapons to kill. They hack into systems to obtain data that might be useful for their research to aid in their work. Therefore, we have to be very careful with the products of our research so that they remain safe in our hands.

Playing God!!!

In synthetic biology, we control the lives of bacteria. We insert proteins into bacteria to quote for everything that we want them to do. We make them kill themselves at the end of their job because they might be released into the environment and be harmful to other living things. It shows that we do not really treat the single-celled organism as life. However, we are coming up with a novel solution for the environment by healing concrete cracks.

Biosecurity

Bacteria might be harmful to the environment and living things around. Considering the fact that they are such small organisms and could not be spotted with the naked-eye if they are released in air, we make them kill themselves with the ‘kill switch’ biobrick. This can be very inconsiderate standing in a bacteria’s point of view, but it is the novel thing to do to avoid them hurting other living organisms.

Construction: Background

Environmental Disaster

Concrete is a very widely used material in construction. Some building structures have to be demolished because the cracks formed appear to be threatening the strength of the structures. These buildings have to be rebuilt in order to reinforce its tensile strength. This is an unsustainable method of recovery because cement is a material that requires a lot of energy to be produced. In the production of cement, the rotating kiln requires the temperature to be between 1350°C-1400°C, which not only uses up a lot of energy resources, but also produces a lot of carbon dioxide. These carbon dioxide contributes to the green house effect which then leads to global warming. Therefore, our project can help to reduce renovation of buildings which in turn lowers the amount of cement that has to be produced each year.

Post-Chernobyl Disaster

The nuclear power plant combustion that occurred in Chernobyl on 26 April 1986 has allowed radioactive elements to be released into the environment, threatening the health of people living within close proximity of the plant. Therefore, a shelter, the Shelter Implementation Plan (SIP) which will be completed in 2012 is currently being built to cover up the area that where the accident occurred so as to make it environmentally friendly. However, if cracks were to form, something that inevitably occurs for building structures, those radioactive elements will still be dispersed into the environment. With the help of our project, those cracks will be able to be filled-up and the area will be safe again.

Health and Safety

Laboratory

In iGEM, lab work is essential for the making and characterisation of numerous BioBricks, required for our project. However, in order to work safely in the lab, a Health and Safety assessment must be carried out in order to prevent any harm exposure, chemically (chemicals), biologically (bacteria/yeasts/fungi) and physically (machineries).

Our lab work for the summer is situated in the Centre for Bacteria Cell Biology (CBCB) in Newcastle University. The facility is regarded as Biosafety level 1, which is explained below:

Involves working with well-characterised agents, e.g. non-pathogenic E. coli
Does not normally cause diseases in healthy individuals
Bio-hazardous materials are kept minimal, e.g. gloves and sometimes facial protection against U.V light
The laboratory is not separated from the building
Contaminated materials are left in open rubbish containers
All lab materials are decontaminated by autoclave

Our project does not actually consist of hazardous agents. The focus of the project is to use Bacillus subtilis, which is not known to be a human pathogen, although rarely causes food poisoning when contaminated into food.

Here is a list of lab Health and Safety notes:

GENERAL

Always work with another person if the agents are hazardous
No smoking, drinking or eating in the lab
Benches should be kept clean and free of space
Close bottle lids after use every time
If spillages occur, clean up immediately

PERSONAL PROTECTION

Lab coat should be worn at all times in the lab (buttoned up) and wear goggles and gloves when required
U.V protection must be worn when working involving U.V
Long hairs must be tied back

HYGIENE

Wash hands after entering, and before leaving the lab thoroughly
Do not touch or put anything into your mouth

EMERGINENCES

Always know the location of fire exits and fire extinguishers, as well as first aid kits

STORAGE AND DISPOSAL

Pipette tips, broken glasses, tube should be thrown into sharps bin
Used cylinders should be auto-claved