Project Ideas

[Farmer John]

Post your project ideas here!

A few simple guidelines:
- keep it bio/chem related
- link or simple description

[Mike Horwath]

Multiple ideas to post!

Genomikon-based intro to plasmid hacking:   http://www.genomikon.ca/
I talked about this at Hive meetings earlier this year, but have not moved too far forward due to time/money concerns.  If ~30 people would be willing to pay ~$20 to attend the workshop it would pay for itself.   The consumables would get...consumed...but we would have leftover equipment and several colors of fluorescent plasmid to use in the future.

Introductory PCR and electrophoresis workshop:   Extract DNA from your own cheek swab sample, use PCR to amplify a few genes, then run the reactions on an agarose gel to determine whether you possess those genes.  This would require equipment others have been discussing such as DIY PCR and el cheapo gel box.  We could do several "control" genes to test whether it's working, such as blood type and gender, and several others that might be interesting, such as neanderthal genes (which some of us have)

Bioprinting---3D printing of living objects!
This is a big field that could go in many different directions.   I would approach it something like this...
Step 1:   Using existing 3D printers at the hive to create PLA scaffold for growing living fungi sculptures.  Inspiration:  http://www.dezeen.com/2013/10/20/mycelium-chair-by-eric-klarenbeek-is-3d-printed-with-living-fungus/ (thanks Katie!)
Step 2:  Make a custom 3D printer that can lay down bacterial cells.  Example: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:20733
Step 4:  (big leagues) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24550124

Hive13 Seed Bank:  similar idea to the yeast bank, and could probably be stored in the same fridge.  I would like this to hold both veggie/garden seeds and some more exotic stuff, such as Glowing Plant  (http://www.glowingplant.com/seeds)

[Matthew Zeits]

Seed bank would be excellent especially if we can get heirloom seeds.

[Mike Horwath]

Agreed!  I'm already somewhat a collector of heirloom tomato seeds.  I have about a dozen varieties, mostly purchased online.  They are easy to collect and save.

I'd actually be especially interested in getting some GMO seeds, such as roundup-ready corn.  These things are constantly in our diets but are difficult to purchase as an individual.  

[Mike Horwath]

Another project idea:  using PCR to determine common GMO genes in plant samples.

The 2 most common insertions in our GMO crops are glyphosphate resistance (AKA roundup ready) and BT-toxin.

It would be interesting to sample grocery store products and weeds near GMO fields.  Roundup-resistant weeds have increased dramatically, but from what I've read most of the resistance appears to be from good ol' fashioned mutation and natural selection rather than gene transfer from the GMO to the weed.  The exception is when the GMO crop and weeds are similar enough for cross-pollination, such as canola and wild rapeseed.

To do this, we would need: 

chemicals and centrifuge to extract DNA
PCR machine
PCR consumables (nucleotides, liquid buffer mix, Taq polymerase)
primers for the genes of interest
electrophoresis gel tray and power supply
DNA gel consumables (agarose, running buffer, DNA stain)
ultraviolet light source for gel imaging (depends on DNA stain)

Mike

[Matthew Zeits]

See my other post about Agar Agar and new nontoxic(ish) stains.