Glossary

IBC Terminology

1. Biological Hazards: Potentially dangerous biological materials that require specific handling protocols.
2. Biological Material: Any material of biological origin, including cells, tissues, or organisms, that may be used or produced in research
3. Biological Specimen: A sample of biological material, such as blood, tissue, or a swab, collected for research or diagnostic purposes.
4. Biological Toxin: A poisonous substance produced by a living organism that can cause harm at low doses.
5. Bloodborne Pathogen: A pathogen present in human blood that can cause disease, such as HIV or Hepatitis B.
6. BSL1 (Biosafety Level 1): The base level of biocontainment for experiments involving low-risk agents that pose minimal hazard to healthy adults, using standard microbiological practices with no special equipment required.
7. BSL2 (Biosafety Level 2): A specific level of biocontainment for experiments involving moderate-risk biological agents overseen by the IBC.
8. BSL3 (Biosafety Level 3): A high-level biocontainment standard for experiments involving serious or potentially lethal biological hazards.
9. Biosafety: The practice of managing biological hazards in experimental settings to ensure researcher and public safety.
10. Cell Lines: Populations of cells derived from an original tissue sample that have been adapted to divide indefinitely (or for many generations) under laboratory conditions, allowing them to be maintained and studied long-term.
11. Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC): Research conducted for legitimate scientific purposes that produces knowledge, products, or technologies which could plausibly be misapplied to threaten public health, agriculture, or security.
12. Gene Drive: A genetic engineering technology that increases the likelihood of a specific trait will be inherited, spreading it through a population faster than normal inheritance.
13. Gene Editing: The use of technology to add, remove, or alter genetic material at specific locations in a genome.
14. Gene Transfer: The process of introducing foreign genetic material into a cell or organism.
15. Human-derived Material: Any material originating from a human source, including blood, tissue, cell lines, or bodily fluids.
16. Human Gene Transfer: The deliberate introduction of genetic material into a person's cells, typically for research or therapeutic purposes, with the goal of producing a desired biological effect (such as correcting a genetic disorder).
17. Human Pathogen: A microorganism or agent capable of causing disease in humans.
18. NIH Guidelines: Short for the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules — a set of federal standards established by the National Institutes of Health that govern how institutions design, review, and conduct research involving recombinant DNA and related technologies.
19. OPIM (Other Potentially Infectious Materials): Human body fluids or tissues, other than blood, that may harbor infectious agents.
20. Potentially Infectious Material: Any material that may contain a pathogen capable of causing disease in humans.
21. Primary Human Cells: Cells taken directly from human tissue and cultured in a lab without being immortalized — they retain characteristics closer to their original in-body state but typically have a limited lifespan before they stop dividing.
22. Recombinant DNA (rDNA): DNA created by joining genetic material from multiple sources to form a new sequence.
23. Recombinant Nucleic Acid: DNA or RNA molecules formed by combining genetic material from different sources.
24. Replication Competent Viral Vector: A modified virus used as a delivery vehicle that retains the ability to replicate and produce new infectious viral particles, allowing it to spread to additional cells.
25. Replication Defective Viral Vector: A modified virus used to deliver genetic material into cells that has been altered so it cannot make new copies of itself, limiting infection to the originally targeted cells.
26. Risk Group (RG1–RG4): This is the classification system that determines BSL assignment in the first place. You define BSL1–3 but not the underlying logic that assigns an agent to a level. It's foundational, not supplementary.
27. Select Agents: Biological agents and toxins that the U.S. government has identified as having the potential to pose a severe threat to public health and safety; possession, use, and transfer of these agents are subject to strict federal regulation and oversight.
28. Synthetic Nucleic Acid: DNA or RNA that is chemically or artificially synthesized rather than derived from a natural source.
29. Viral Propagation: The process of growing and replicating viruses in host cells for research or production purposes.
30. Viral Vector: A virus modified to deliver genetic material into a cell for research or therapeutic purposes.

Administrative Terminology

1. Approval: The formal authorization granted by the IBC once an experiment has been reviewed and deemed appropriately designed.
2. IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee): A related committee mentioned in the IBC resources that oversees animal research.
3. IBC Coordinator: The primary contact person for inquiries regarding meeting schedules and protocol submissions.
4. Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC): The committee responsible for supervising recombinant DNA use and handling biological safety and hazard issues in experiments.
5. Instructional Nature: Refers to experiments conducted for educational purposes, which are still subject to IBC supervision.
6. OneAegis Online System: The digital platform used by researchers to submit and manage their IBC applications.
7. Principal Investigator (PI): The lead researcher responsible for the conduct of a study and the submission of biosafety protocols.
8. Research Administration Office (RAO): The university office that supports the administration of research committees like the IBC.