“Navigating the NIH rDNA Guidelines Terminology”

The NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules are at the heart of biosafety oversight across U.S. research institutions. But the challenge isn’t always the rules; sometimes it’s the scientific terminology. Terms like plasmids, vectors, hosts, replication-incompetent viruses, nucleic acids, and gene drives appear throughout the Guidelines, yet many readers aren’t sure what they mean.

This free, community-focused webinar will break down the scientific terminology used in the Guidelines—clearly, simply, and in context. The goal: once you understand the terms and how they connect to each other, the Guidelines themselves become much easier to navigate.

What We’ll Cover

• Core Concepts – DNA vs. RNA, nucleic acids, and synthetic sequences
• Microbes & Tools – viruses, bacteria, plasmids, resistance markers, natural exchangers
• Genetics in Action – inheritance, gene editing, mutations
• Advanced Terms Made Simple – vectors, cassettes, and gene drives

Who Should Attend

• Biosafety Administrators & Program Managers
• Institutional Biosafety Committee Members
• Compliance Officers & Research Administrators
• Anyone who wants a clearer grasp of the science behind the NIH Guidelines

? Webinar Details

• When: September 24, 2025
• From: 3:00 to 4:30 PM Eastern Time

Cost: Free – open to the biosafety community