biosafety

[bahy-oh-seyf-tee]

noun

1. the maintenance of safe conditions in biological research to prevent harm to workers, nonlaboratory organisms, or the environment.

biosafety

/ ˌbaɪəʊˈseɪftɪ /

noun

1. the precautions taken to control the cultivation and distribution of genetically modified crops and products

Word History and Origins

Origin of biosafety¹

First recorded in 1975–80; bio- + safety

Example Sentences

“Veterinarians are on the front line of the outbreak, and increased biosafety practices like respiratory and eye protection should reduce their exposure risk.”

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If an academic researcher proposes an experiment that would make a bacterium resistant to drugs, for example, the university’s biosafety committee must report the work to the funding agency and submit a risk mitigation plan.

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The Wuhan institute’s biosafety practices have intensified concerns about the possibility of a lab leak.

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“I think countries need to start preparing for the response efforts that’s needed for ... big biosafety concerns,” she said.

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She says concerns about the experiments have been “really overblown” as all have been done in high-level biosecurity facilities under strict biosafety precautions.

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