Overview
This year, the iGEM NIS-Kazakhstan team had the privilege of conducting experiments at the National Center for Biotechnology (NCB), the leading research institution of Kazakhstan. Gaining access to such a nationally significant facility is an exceptional opportunity for high school students. It reflects our team's dedication to responsible and quality research. With this opportunity came a deep sense of pride and an even greater sense of responsibility. Working in a professional biosafety environment required us to strictly adhere to all laboratory regulations, maintain continuous supervision, and ensure that every experiment met the highest safety and ethical standards.
Safety Training
Before starting our experiments, we completed a safety orientation course at the National Center for Biotechnology. All new lab members at NCB must go through safety training before they begin any work. The session was led by the NCB's Safety Officer, who gave us a full tour of the facility, explained the main lab rules, emergency procedures, and showed the purpose and location of each safety item listed in Table 1:
| Equipment | Description |
|---|---|
| Emergency Eyewash Station | Installed near all work areas, it allows immediate rinsing of the eyes in case of accidental exposure to chemicals or biological materials. |
| Safety Shower | Provides a rapid decontamination option for the whole body in case of chemical spills or other hazardous contact. |
| Fire Extinguisher | Strategically placed throughout the lab to control or extinguish small fires before they can spread. |
| First Aid Kit | Fully stocked with essential medical supplies to provide immediate care for minor injuries and emergencies. |
Table 1: Safety Equipment at NCB
Personal Protective Equipment
Inside the lab, the research technician carried out additional detailed safety training before we began our cell culture experiments. They explained the purpose of each protective item again and held a special session focused entirely on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Since we worked with HEK293T cells, avoiding contamination was extremely important, not only to keep the experiments accurate, but also to protect ourselves from any possible exposure.
Wearing the right PPE became a key part of our daily routine. We made sure there was no exposed skin, always wore face masks, and changed into special lab shoes when entering the culture room to keep the area sterile.
| PPE Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Lab Coat | Protects clothes and skin from contact with chemicals or biological materials. |
| Disposable Hair Cap | Keeps long hair tied and covered to prevent contamination. |
| Safety Glasses | Shields eyes from accidental splashes during experiments. |
| Nitrile Gloves | Protects hands and prevents samples from being contaminated. |
| Face Masks | Stops the spread of airborne particles that could affect cell cultures. |
| Laboratory Shoes | Separate shoes worn inside the lab and culture room to maintain sterile conditions. |
Table 2: Personal Protective Equipment
Biological Safety & Reagents
Our experiments involved working with HEK293T cells. This cell line is handled under Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) conditions. Although HEK293T cells are not known to be infectious, they are human-derived and require careful handling to avoid contamination and ensure safety. All work was performed inside a biosafety cabinet, and before and after every experiment, all surfaces and tools were disinfected using 70% ethanol and exposed to UV light for 30 minutes to eliminate any possible contaminants.
We also worked with several chemical reagents commonly used in cell culture and molecular biology, including acrylamide, DMSO, ethanol, and various buffer solutions. Some of these reagents can be harmful or flammable if mishandled. Our research technician always reminded us of their potential hazards and supervised us closely when using them. Under this supervision, we learned to handle reagents with caution: measuring, mixing, and disposing of them carefully to prevent accidents or contamination.
We have included some of the hazards we learned about and the safety measures we took in Table 3:
| Reagent | Hazard / Risk | Safety Measure |
|---|---|---|
| Cell Culture Media & Reagents | Can be contaminated with biological materials; must be discarded properly. | Used sterile techniques; disposed of waste in dedicated biohazard containers. |
| Buffer Solutions (e.g., Tris, PBS) | Usually low-risk but can cause irritation if spilled or splashed into eyes. | Wore protective glasses and gloves; cleaned spills immediately. |
| Ethanol (70%) | Highly flammable liquid; vapors may cause dizziness or irritation. | Wore protective glasses and gloves; cleaned spills immediately. |
| DMSO (Dimethyl sulfoxide) | Easily absorbs through skin and can carry other chemicals into the body. | Wore gloves at all times and avoided direct contact; handled in small amounts. |
| Acrylamide | Toxic and neurotoxic before polymerization; can be harmful if inhaled or absorbed through the skin. | Always handled with gloves, mask, and under supervision; avoided skin contact and inhalation. |
Table 3: Reagent Hazards and Safety Measures