Biotech Midterm

What are health and safety regulations?

Legal guidelines that minimize risk and help to protect participants from hazards in the workplace.

What is Occupational Health and Safety?

An area of public health focusing on illness and injury in the workplace.

Health and Safety Risks

These include Chemical Hazards, Physical Hazards, Biological Hazards, and Ergonomical Hazards.

Chemical Hazards examples

Chemicals used in experiments or specific work.

Physical Hazards examples

Radiation, heat, and noise.

Biological Hazards examples

Blood-borne pathogens and other infectious diseases.

Ergonomical Hazards examples

Repetitive motions and heavy lifting.

ALARA in radiation protection

As low as reasonably achievable.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Specialized clothing or equipment used to ensure safety in a place of work against possible hazards.

What is a Safety Data Sheet (SDS)?

Documents that include properties of each chemical, hazards, protective measures, and safety precautions.

Biosafety Level 1

Used to study nonpathogenic strains of E. coli and chicken pox.

Biosafety Level 2

Used to study moderate-risk infectious agents that pose a risk if accidentally inhaled, swallowed, or exposed to the skin.

Biosafety Level 3

Used to study infectious agents more likely transmitted through the air and that cause potentially lethal infections.

Biosafety Level 4

Used to study infectious agents that pose a high risk of aerosol-transmitted laboratory infections.

What is a buffer?

A solution that acts to resist change in pH when the hydrogen ion concentration is changed.

What does pH represent?

A logarithmic calculation of the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution.

Mass/Volume equation

Concentration desired x Volume desired = Amount of solute (weight).

Normality

A measure of concentration based on the number of exchangeable protons or hydroxide ions in a chemical reaction.

Spectrophotometry

An instrument which measures the absorbance of light by a solution at a particular wavelength.

How does gel electrophoresis work?

Uses electrical current to move charged particles based on size; smaller molecules move faster.

What is chromatography?

A chemical tool used to bind proteins based on particular properties and analyze the purity of substances.

What precautions can reduce health dangers?

Vaccines, wearing proper PPE, and using disinfectants.

What constitutes 'Chemical Storage'?

Storing chemicals on level, sturdy shelves, separated by specific hazards.

FDA

regulates biotech drugs and foods in the US

EPA

Oversees environmental impacts of biotech products

USDA

regulates genetically engineered plants and animals