What are genetically modified organisms?
Genetically modified organisms (GMO) are living organisms whose genetic material has been altered through genetic engineering techniques. GMO usually consist of the following elements:
- A host; such as a cell lines, an animal or a plant
- A vector system; such as a plasmid, viral particles or CRISPR Cas 9
- A donor sequence; such as a marker gene, an antibiotic resistance gene, but also sequences coding for a toxin or an oncogene.
Activities involving GMO must be carried out in a safe manner. This concerns:
- manufacturing GMO
- all actions that are carried out with GMO, such as multiplying, applying, the possession of GMO, destroying or discarding GMO, but also importing or exporting GMO.
Working in a contained area
Genetically modified organisms must not be release into the environment and must therefore remain within a confined space, a ‘contained area’. This is a work area, such as a laboratory, an animal enclosure or a plant enclosure, where you are allowed to work with GMO. There are three ‘containment levels’ at the VU: I, II and III.
Determine the containment level
The containment level (I, II and III) is determined by a risk assessment and depends on the potentially hazardous characteristics of the used host, the vector and/or donor sequence. Work with GMO may therefore not start before a risk assessment has been carried out. You can perform a risk assessment using Annex 5. This determines which containment should be used when carrying out GMO activities. Employees perform a risk assessment when constructing a GMO in LabServant. Is it containment level II or higher? Contract the BSO.
Law and regulations
Constructing a GMO may pose a high biological risk to the health of employees and the environment. GMO activities are therefore notified by the biological safety officer (BSO) to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (IenW) and may only take place under the conditions and regulation in the Regeling genetisch gemodificeerde organismen milieubeheer 2013.
Lab employee
For instructions on the use of GMO, you can contact the research leader (OL) and/or the departmental expert on biological safety (ABV) of the department.
Research Leader (OL)
In the case of GMO activities at containment level I or II, one or more research leaders (OL) must be appointed who are responsible for supervising day-to-day operations. For GMO activities of containment level III or higher, contact the BSO first.
For an appointment as OL, please contact the BSO via biosafety@vu.nl.
Departmental expert on biological safety (ABV)
The VU has also appointed a number of departmental experts on biological safety (ABV) who can support an OL in his/her work. For an appointment as ABV, please contact the BSO via biosafety@vu.nl.
Registration of GMO in LabServant
The GMO Regulation states that the construction of a GMO must be recorded. So also the construction of GMO obtained from third parties. The GMO and the used bio-components (host, vector, insert) are registered within the VU in the Biosafety module of LabServant.
OLs and ABVs have registration rights in LabServant’s bio-module. They register the individual bio-components and link them to a notification. The lab employee must record the construction of the GMO within the bio-module and ensure that the ABV and OL are aware of new bio-components.
For a tutorial on how to use the bio-module, go to Surfdrive Surfdrive Biosafety@VU. The LabServant website can be researched via www.Labservant.vu.nl.
Questions?
For more information or question about genetically modified organisms or the Biosafety module of LabServant, please contact the BSO via biosafety@vu.nl.
Incidents and accidents
In the event of incidents or accidents in which GMO was released outside the contained area, contact the BSO immediately and call:
Marjanne Markerink – van Ittersum: 0646705552
Marleen Schiffler: 0643214957