MASSEY UNIVERSITY
GENETIC TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
COVER SHEET
Name of Applicant:
Massey University
Principal Investigator:
(Staff Member only)
Title of Project:
MPI Facility number:
Laboratory room number(s):
Containment level applicable to this lab(s):
MPI Standard(s) applicable to this lab(s):
Brief Description of Project in Lay Terms:
(Copy and paste your description, formatted as a paragraph rather than a table, to the ‘Summary of Application’ section of the
EPA application form)
BACKGROUND
(optional)
WHAT
WHY
HOW
JUSTIFY
(Why must this
work use GM
techniques?
Why is project
important?)
PROJECT
SCOPE
(Host/Donor
restrictions
- if applicable)
Examples of brief descriptions in lay terms using this format are provided on the following pages.
Please do not include these examples with your submission to the GTC!
Fate of Organism:
CONTINUED OVER
Examples of Brief Project Descriptions in Lay Terms (please delete this page):
BACKGROUND
(optional)
WHAT
WHY
HOW
This project seeks approval to clone genes (as cDNAs) derived from
cyanobacteria and photosynthetic eukarya
to study the evolution, function and control of primary metabolic pathways in
plants.
DNA will be sequenced, and proteins will be expressed from recombinant DNA.
E. coli or P. pastoralis containing genes from photosynthetic eukarya will be used
to compare enzyme functions in primary metabolic pathways, e.g., reductive
sulphur assimilation, ethylene biosynthesis, where differences occur across the
plant kingdom and cyanobacteria, or between higher and lower taxonomic groups.
JUSTIFY
(Why must this
work use GM
techniques?
Why is project
important?)
Use of transgenic hosts enables comparative gene family or evolutionary-based
studies on enzyme groups with similar function—an increasingly widely used and
important tool in determining metabolic regulation.
PROJECT
SCOPE
(Host/Donor
restrictions
- if applicable)
Genes derived from NZ native biota or from organisms identified under the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) will be
excluded, as will genes that may increase the pathogenicity, virulence or
infectivity of the host organism, or its ability to escape containment.
BACKGROUND
(optional)
WHAT
WHY
HOW
JUSTIFY
(Why must this
work use GM
techniques?
Why is project
important?)
The green blowfly Lucilia sericata is one of four blowfly species associated with
sheep flystrike in New Zealand. However, this species is also used in medical
applications of sterile maggots to treat wounds that do not respond well to
antibiotics.
This project seeks approval to produce transgenic strains of Lucilia sericata
to study the genes that are required for early development of L. sericata, and
genes that may encode factors important in wound healing.
Initially, we will determine if methods developed in Australia for making transgenic
L. cuprina can be applied to L sericata. If so, we will use this technology to
integrate various gene constructs including reporter genes, L. sericata genes with
epitope tags and hairpin RNAs to induce RNA interference and knock-down gene
expression.
Use of transgenic strains of L. sericata will enable us to identify and characterise
genes essential for early development and wound healing. This study could lead
to the identification of new targets for novel blowfly-specific insecticides that would
be more eco-friendly than the broad-spectrum insecticides in current use. It could
also improve the effectiveness of the use of sterile maggots in promoting wound
healing.
PROJECT
SCOPE
(Host/Donor
restrictions
- if applicable)
- Please delete this page -
Name of the host organism
(including taxonomic authority):
Specify the category of host organism
eg, Category 1 or 21
What the organism is modified with
Please specify vector and source and
function of donor DNA
Specify the category of genetic
modification
eg, Category A or B1
Containment level
e.g. PC1/PC22
Name of the host organism
(including taxonomic authority):
Specify the category of host organism
eg, Category 1 or 21
What the organism is modified with
Please specify vector and source and
function of donor DNA
Specify the category of genetic
modification
eg, Category A or B1
Containment level
e.g. PC1/PC22
Name of the host organism
(including taxonomic authority):
Specify the category of host organism
eg, Category 1 or 21
What the organism is modified with
Please specify vector and source and
function of donor DNA
Specify the category of genetic
modification
eg, Category A or B1
Containment level
e.g. PC1/PC22
Examples of the information required are provided on the following pages. Please do not include these examples
with your submission to the GTC! Please note that the information requested in this table is pasted directly into
the decision form that is submitted to the EPA.
According to the Regulations.
As in the Australian/New Zealand Standard 2243.3:2002 Safety in Laboratories: Microbiological aspects and
containment facilities.
1
2
Please refer to the HSNO Regulations 2003 to determine the category of host organism and
genetic modifications:
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2003/0152/latest/DLM195215.html
Please note that only low-risk modifications (A or B categories) can be considered by the
Massey University GTC.
Please e-mail this cover sheet, together with the EPA application, to: gtc@massey.ac.nz
Examples of Organism Descriptions (please delete this page):
Name of the host organism
(including taxonomic authority):
Specify the category of host organism
eg, Category 1 or 21
Candida albicans (Berkhout, 1923)
Host category 2
What the organism is modified with
Please specify vector and source and function
of donor DNA
Specify the category of genetic
modification
eg, Category A or B1
Containment level
e.g. PC1/PC22
Integrative vectors containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes
Category B
PC2
Name of the host organism
(including taxonomic authority):
Escherichia coli (non-pathogenic strains) Migula 1895
(Castellani & Chalmers 1919)
Specify the category of host organism
eg, Category 1 or 21
Host category 1
What the organism is modified with
Please specify vector and source and function
of donor DNA
Non-conjugative vectors containing Candida albicans DNA
Specify the category of genetic
modification
eg, Category A or B1
Containment level
e.g. PC1/PC22
Category A
PC1
Name of the host organism
(including taxonomic authority):
Specify the category of host organism
eg, Category 1 or 21
Escherichia coli strain K12 derivatives Migula 1895 (Castellani &
Chalmers 1919)
Host category 1
What the organism is modified with
Please specify vector and source and function
of donor DNA
Specify the category of genetic
modification
eg, Category A or B1
Containment level
e.g. PC1/PC22
Category A
PC1
Name of the host organism
(including taxonomic authority):
Specify the category of host organism
eg, Category 1 or 21
Insect cell lines from Drosophila melanogaster
Category 1
What the organism is modified with
Please specify vector and source and function
of donor DNA
Specify the category of genetic
modification
eg, Category A or B1
Containment level
e.g. PC1/PC22
Non-conjugative vectors containing Drosophila melanogaster
DNA, reporter genes, selectable markers and may have
regulatory or localisation sequences fused to them such as
promoters, non-Drosophilid 2 component systems for controlling
expression, protein/epitope tags, transposable elements and
polyA signals
Vectors containing Drosophila melanogaster DNA, reporter
genes, selectable markers and may have regulatory or
localisation sequences fused to them such as promoters, nonDrosophilid 2 component systems for controlling expression,
protein/epitope tags, transposable elements and polyA signals
Category A
PC1
- Please delete this page -
1
According to the Regulations.
As in the Australian/New Zealand Standard 2243.3:2002 Safety in Laboratories: Microbiological aspects and
containment facilities.
2