Hack a Taq

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Now that there are several DIY PCR machines available, the next challenge was to find a reasonable source for Taq polymerase. Also, as a side-project for the BIO-DESIGN for the REAL WORLD at EPFL, we wanted to see if we can make the "wet" part of DIY PCR more accessible, so that PCR could be used as a coliform bacteria detection method from water samples.
We decided that having a workshop in a new space will be a happy confluence of several items on the to-do list, and document the process on biodesign.cc


Objectives

1. test the Wild OpenPCR machine (gaudilabs)
2. hack the Taq isolation protocol from Open Biotechnology, and see if we can make and purify the enzyme with alternative reagents from the consumable reagents sold there (hackteria open source bioart...)
3. test out some PCR primers to detect E. coli (biodesign for the real world)


Techniques Learned

  • PCR
  • agarose gel analysis of PCR products
  • DNA extraction from E. coli
  • Taq protein extraction


Proposed Schedule

5 April - Optional pre-workshop day at EPFL
12:15pm (EPFL SV3.615) meet the students of BIO-DESIGN for the REAL WORLD.
17:00 pm (EPFL ) PUBLIC THESIS DEFENSE of Adrian - Highthroughput 3D culture and analysis of stem cell differentiation (room and official title coming soon)
6 April
10:00 am (place de la Ripponne, steps of palace de rumine) OUTFITTING THE LAB shopping in the Riponne flea market
11:00 am (atélier) MEET AND GREET