Use and Care of Biological Materials (Excluding Vertebrate Animals)

On this page
  1. Why Are These Rules Necessary?
  2. Does This Project Involve Biological Materials (Excluding Live Vertebrate Animals)?
  3. Before Beginning a Project, students working with Biological Materials must:
  4. General Rules for Working with Biological Materials
  5. Safety Rules for Working with Non-Vertebrate Organisms
  6. Special Rules for Work Done at a Certified Laboratory

Why Are These Rules Necessary?

Biological materials play an important role in medicine, agriculture, environmental science, biotechnology, and many other fields of research. When handled properly, microorganisms, cultured cells, environmental samples, algae, fungi, and non-vertebrate organisms can be studied safely and provide valuable scientific information. However, some biological materials can cause disease, produce harmful substances, or negatively impact the environment if handled or disposed of improperly.

Professional scientists who work with biological materials receive specialized training and follow established laboratory safety procedures, institutional policies, and government regulations. Some biological materials may only be handled in laboratories that meet specific legal and safety requirements.

These rules are designed to protect students, teachers, families, judges, research personnel, and the environment while helping students develop the safe and responsible laboratory practices expected of professional scientists.

Does This Project Involve Biological Materials (Excluding Live Vertebrate Animals)?

These rules apply if a project involves:

  • bacteria, archaea, fungi, yeast, molds, protists, algae, or viruses;
  • culturing or growing microorganisms;
  • fermentation using microorganisms;
  • microbial fuel cells;
  • recombinant DNA techniques or genetically modified microorganisms;
  • cultured cells or tissues;
  • environmental samples such as soil, compost, wastewater, or natural water sources;
  • biological specimens, including blood, tissues, or body fluids;
  • non-vertebrate organisms, including insects, worms, crustaceans, mollusks, Daphnia, brine shrimp, planaria, hydra, or Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans); or
  • any other project involving biological materials other than live vertebrate animals.

If a student is unsure whether these rules apply to their project, contact the teacher/sponsor or Regional Safety Chair before beginning the research. If the project also involves human participants or vertebrate animals, read the separate section for safety for those projects. High school students must also read and follow all applicable ISEF Safety Rules.

Before Beginning a Project, students working with Biological Materials must:

  1. Read these IJAS Biological Materials Safety Rules with their sponsor.
  2. High school students must also read and follow all applicable ISEF Safety Rules.
  3. Discuss proper use of any AI in research with their sponsor.
  4. Prepare all surveys, interview questions, consent forms, tests, and other materials that will be used with human participants.
  5. Write the procedure for the experiment following all IJAS and ISEF (high school) safety rules. High School students will use this in their ISEF Research Plan form 1A.
  6. Complete a Background Research document. High School students will use this in their ISEF Research Plan form1A.
  7. Identify all biological materials that will be used and understand the potential hazards associated with them.
  8. Determine the appropriate laboratory or research setting and ensure that appropriate adult supervision will be provided.
  9. Learn the laboratory techniques and biosafety procedures needed to safely conduct the project.
  10. Develop procedures for the safe handling, storage, disinfection, and disposal of all biological materials.
  11. Ensure that they have read, and their sponsors have discussed. proper use of AI in research with them.
  12. Prepare a written experimental procedure describing the biological materials, methods, safety precautions, and disposal procedures that will be used.
  13. Obtain SRC approval before beginning the project when required by these rules.
  14. Begin the project only AFTER all required paperwork and approvals have been completed. Missing, incorrectly completed, unsigned forms, or violation of any safety rules, will result in the project being disqualified by the Head Safety Judge/President.
  15. Middle school students working with microorganisms must complete the IJAS Microorganism Endorsement Form on pg 62.
  16. High school students working with potentially hazardous biological agents must complete the applicable ISEF Form 6A and any other required ISEF forms. Hazardous biological agents are defined as any BSL-2 agents; any bacteria, viruses, viroids, prions, rickettsia, fungi, and parasites; any Recombinant DNA (rDNA) technologies; any Biological tissues and fluids: any human or animal fresh/frozen tissues, blood, primary cell cultures, and body fluids.
  17. Keep all completed approval forms and safety documentation with the project records and have them on the table with the project display at the science exposition.

General Rules for Working with Biological Materials

Sponsors are responsible for teaching students appropriate laboratory safety procedures before experimentation begins. Students working with biological materials must:

  • wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including eye protection, protective clothing, and gloves when appropriate;
  • wash hands thoroughly before and after handling biological materials;
  • use proper aseptic (sterile) technique whenever appropriate;
  • disinfect work surfaces before and after experimentation;
  • clearly label all cultures, biological materials, and containers;
  • safely store biological materials to prevent contamination or accidental release;
  • conduct biological materials research only in locations permitted by these rules and follow all laboratory safety procedures established by the school or research facility;
  • properly disinfect biological cultures before disposal using approved methods such as autoclaving or an appropriate sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution;
  • prevent the intentional release of laboratory organisms or biological materials into the environment; and
  • immediately report spills, contamination, injuries, or unsafe conditions to the supervising adult.

Unless specifically permitted under IJAS rules and conducted in an appropriately approved research laboratory under qualified supervision, students may not conduct recombinant DNA experiments or culture mammalian cells.

Safety Rules for Working with Microorganisms (bacteria, archaea, fungi, yeast, molds, protists, algae, or viruses)

Projects involving microorganisms must:

  • use only known, non-pathogenic microorganisms obtained from reputable commercial suppliers, educational institutions, or research laboratories;
  • include documentation of the source of all microorganisms with the endorsement form, research paper, and project display;
  • conduct microorganism research in a school laboratory or professional research facility unless the project uses only commercially obtained baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae);
  • NOT culture microorganisms obtained from people or other vertebrate animals, including from the mouth, nose, throat, skin, blood, body fluids, tissues, or waste;
  • NOT culture microorganisms collected from objects or surfaces that have been in contact with people or other vertebrate animals, including doorknobs, keyboards, telephones, countertops, eating utensils, or restroom surfaces;
  • NOT culture or intentionally propagate unknown microorganisms collected from environmental samples;
  • NOT conduct experiments using known disease-causing microorganisms or viruses unless specifically permitted under IJAS rules and conducted in an appropriately approved research laboratory under qualified supervision;
  • use only sealed microbial fuel cell systems;
  • observe mold growth studies only until visible mold growth occurs. Once visible growth is present, cultures must remain sealed and be properly disinfected and disposed of without further manipulation; and
  • NOT distill, concentrate, purify, or consume alcohol or other products produced during microorganism experiments when doing so creates additional safety hazards or violates applicable laws or school policies.

Safety Rules for Working with Non-Vertebrate Organisms

Projects involving non-vertebrate organisms must:

  • minimize unnecessary injury, stress, or harm to living organisms;
  • provide appropriate housing, food, water, and environmental conditions whenever organisms are maintained during the investigation;
  • prevent the escape or intentional release of organisms into the environment;
  • comply with regulations governing invasive or regulated species; and
  • properly dispose of organisms at the conclusion of the project.

Special Rules for Work Done at a Certified Laboratory

If research is conducted at a certified laboratory or research facility, high school students must complete the Regulated Institution form-2C . Middle school students must include a letter from the laboratory director or supervising scientist along with the safety sheet and any appropriate endorsement form. The letter must verify that:

  • the research was conducted under appropriate adult supervision;
  • the student followed all required laboratory safety procedures;
  • the laboratory is certified or otherwise authorized to conduct the research;
  • the supervising scientist’s name, title, and contact information are provided; and
  • the work described in the project was completed at that facility.
  • approval from the institution’s IRB and/or SRC

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