UCL iGEM guideline to a safe summer in the LAB

Please DO

1. Please wear lab coats and appropriate gloves (white for normal; purple/blue for handling EtBr gels) in the lab.
2. Please close all the lids of eppendorfs, falcons, bottles right after use, especially for agar & media.
3. Always screw tightly the lid of centrifuge rotor, if it has one.
4. If you borrow any chemicals or equipments from other people or labs, please return them after use and make sure all the lids of the chemical containers are closed.
5. Double check the pipette before using, make sure you have the correct pipette with correct volume.
6. Enzymes (and its buffer), competent cells, antibiotics, should remain on ice all the time during procedures, and store at -20°C right after use.
7. Pure DNA should be stored at -20°C, and settle on ice before using or right after the Miniprep. Can be leave at room temperature if enzymes or gel loading buffer is added during procedures.
8. Please put fresh media, fresh agar right back to where you find it after use.
9. Please prepare and autoclave agar, media, and tips before using up. Please autoclave conical flasks at least 1 day earlier before using.
10. Please check used agar plates, glycerol stocks, miniprep DNA regularly, discard unwanted ones.
11. Please use certain tip bin for contaminated tips during procedures.
12. All non-contaminated waste (tissue, gloves, etc) is going to be in yellow bags; non-sharp contaminated waste (falcons contain bacteria culture or any other stuff contacted with bacteria) is going to be in red bags; tips, loops and spreaders are going to the red box with a red bag inside; agar plates are going to be in the small box under the sink; broken glass should be in the small green box.
13. EtBr contamination should be in the white bin in the gel lab (ground floor).
14. Add detergent in to conical flasks contain bacteria culture, leave for a while and then wash them.
15. Please clean the bench after use.
16. Please discard all the ice in the sink at the end of the day.
17. Please clean the bins regularly (3/4 full should be packed and put to appropriate places).

Please DO NOT

1. Please DO NOT drink or eat anything in the lab, including water and chewing gum.
2. Please DO NOT wear gloves in the corridor. (If you are taking the EtBr gel, you can use a glove, but please make sure DO NOT touch any doors or handles.)
3. Please DO NOT let any liquid into the pipette itself while pipetting, if that unfortunately happens, please stop using it and clean it with tissue. If the problem still remains, please tell someone who can repair it.
4. Please DO NOT put EtBr contamination into any bins in MMP.
5. Please DO NOT put contaminated tips in any random baker found in the lab. People may need to use them for other purposes.
6. Please DO NOT pour the bacteria culture into the sink before treating with detergents.
7. Please DO NOT leave the bench like a disaster after use. Even if you are very tired, make sure to put all the chemicals, media, and everything else you have used to where you find them.
8. Please DO NOT leave the bins full and wait for other people to clean them.