Course Contents

Introduction to Biosafety: Definition, concept of biosafety measures. Cartagena protocol on biosafety; field and laboratory biosecurity and biosafety; risk assessment; development of biosafety measures, agencies regulating biosafety rules. Uses and abuses of genetic information and biohazards; good laboratory practices; risks related to genetically modified organisms (GMO); international rules and regulations for biosafety and GMOs; ethical issues related to GMOs; euthanasia, reproductive and cloning technologies, transplants and eugenics; patenting, commercialization and benefit sharing; role of national bioethics committees; biosafety guidelines from a national perspective. Books Recommended 1. Altman A and Hasegawa PM, 2012. Plant Biotechnology and Agriculture: Prospects for the 21st Century. 1st Edition; Academic Press. 2. Laboratory Biosafety Manual, WHO, 2006. 3rd Edition; AITBS Publishers and Distributors, India. (Available online free of cost). 3. Furr AK, 2000. CRC Handbook of Laboratory Safety. 5th Edition; CRC Press. 4. Jose Maria A, 2003. Genes Technology and Policy. Available online at: http: //www.apdip.net/ publications/iespprimers/eprimer-genes.pdf 5. Krishna VS, 2007. Bioethics and Biosafety in Biotechnology. New Age International Publishers. 6. National Biosafety Guidelines, 2005. Pakistan Environmental protection Agency (Available online) 7. George T. Tzotzos, Genetically Modified Organisms: A Guide to Biosafety, 1995. CAB International, USA

Course Learning Outcomes

• To acquaint students with principles of biosafety and ethical perspectives pertaining to lab biosafety and use of laboratory animals in a safe way. • To enable students to understand importance of practicing safety laws and standards related to laboratory work.