Steam-Punk version of PCR-mashine, made from recycle parts. No complex electronics, full-manual

[VladimirGent]

Hello  , I am interested on community opinion  on my new project  for DIY-Bio.  A PCR-mashine that can be created  in any place. From  scratch. 50$.  No complex  electronics..  very old  technology.

It is on Kikstarter now, but I will finish the project anyway.

Educational project.. DIY-Bio, PCR-machine for amateur bio lab, .. universal design for experiments with PCR process.

.................story there.........

PCR reaction is used in molecular biology  to make  copies  of  DNA-molecules, encoding our  genes.   To run  the classic version of such reaction  one  need a PCR-machine,  essentially  thermocycler.

Existing DIY versions  are too complex  to make  by  amateur  biologists.

So, I have made  a special  design  of PCR mashine  that is easy  to reproduce  everywhere  in the world  with minimal knowledge  and  skills in electronics. No Arduino , no thermostat modules, pure  steam-punk  version.. made from recycled parts. And  very  easy in case of  repair  and maintenance.

It is  functional  ,  and educational  as well.

It can be made  by school-children  in science-class   from the  materials  found in   trash-can  in the nearest FabLab,  and   Law of Om  and  a little bit of Thermodynamics..

It can be run  full-manually , or  using a 3D printer as automatic  hand.

It involves  the participants  into the magic of science.

The result of that project  is going to be  a video  with demonstration  and instructions  how  to build up  your own  thing  like that  and how to use it ...   And  text  also  of course...It is Open Project... everyone  can make  own version  based  on the  principles and using  things  that are  readily  available.

 

[John Griessen]

On 02/11/2016 01:55 PM, VladimirGent wrote:
> It is functional , and educational as well.

And the structure comes from ordinary objects -- bottles, cardboard, obsolete computer parts...
Looks like a great lesson to teach.

[Mac Cowell]

Can you send the Kickstarter link?

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[John Griessen]

On 02/11/2016 02:36 PM, Mac Cowell wrote:
> Can you send the Kickstarter link?

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/563115656/3d-printer-into-pcr-machine-conversion

[Sebastian S Cocioba]

Is there an image of a gel of resulting reaction? I like the simplicity but need evidence of function If you want me to back the project. If it can do the job, I could care less if its made of two cups of coffee, a paper clip, and a rubber band. Im all for new, cheap simple pcr machines (working on one myself for fun) but without data its useless. Am I missing a link to said data somewhere? My apologies if I've overlooked!

Sebastian S. Cocioba

CEO & Founder

New York Botanics, LLC

Blog: ATinyGreenCell.com

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[John Griessen]

On 02/11/2016 02:36 PM, Mac Cowell wrote:
> Can you send the Kickstarter link?

searching kickstarter pcr you find minipcr also.

I need to emulate their promoting style and offer up one of my design that is made of inexpensive
molded parts instead of lots of milled sheets and does more. They got $67k cumulative for a price per each of $650 from 245
backers and only two of those were for bigger donations than the minipcr reward.

With minipcr succeeding well, there is still plenty of basic PCR interest out there. An AirPCR selling price of $400 would get
some decent numbers of buyers I bet... I'm working on plastic molding right now for radio IOT node enclosures; then a field bio
system; then AirPCR+ for PCR, incubating, shaking, culturing to OD -- programmable via wifi in python or by a GUI webapp. It will
start out with fewer features at first ;-) But the later ones will bolt on easily :-) The wifi and python part is made easy by
the current micropython follow on kickstarter campaign to make a solid version of it for the ESP8266 $4 wifi/computer module.

[Jerry Gerald]

Have there been any reaction results show yet? I would be interested in building one of these if the results are accurate.  

[ukitel]

Very interesting!
I also had some thoughts on a similar design, I don't see any reason why it shouldn't work, pcr technology actually started like this: 3 waterbaths and a lot of patience. Fluorescence in situ hybridization is often still done like this and similarly includes denaturation and annealing steps.

The only trick is to use temperatures 1 or 2 degrees higher than normal to buffer the temperature drop the moment the tubes are passed from one waterbath to the other. Anyway 1-2 degrees would just lower the efficiency, no risk of actually impeding the reaction.

Hacking the 3d printer to make the job for you is a plus!

If you have more space available on the printing plate, you could increase the water surface by cutting the bottles along the other edge: this would allow to use less water and definitely more tubes!

[Pieter]

I just want to say I think it is an awesome project, nice 3D printer hack too! Keep up to good work

[Abizar Lakdawalla]

Stratagene used to have a similar system called the the Robocyler which used 4 blocks at fixed temperature and then tubes or plates were moved from one block to another.

[Ra Ramana]

Any updates on the project. Looks like the Kickstarter didn't raise, but given it is just 50$ off the shelf components would love to hear the status & developments.  Besides miniPCR (still $650 per piece from the above post by John) what good PCR that could really work in the field (for reliably  identifying say TB - mycoplasma) exists? I will do a separate posting with more details, but this really low cost PCR post got my interest.