Nuts and Volts - September/October 2018

If you’re currently into, say, communications, then you might fear that making the move to DIY Biotech means selling your DMM and oscilloscope to buy a used PCR machine. Don’t do it! The more you bring to the table, the better.

Use your 3D printer to make an affordable centrifuge.

kit from The Odin ($159). This kit is much more involved than the Amino Labs product, but you’ll learn some advanced techniques such as how to use a micropipette.

Buy an old PCR machine in need of repair and use your electronics skills to debug the microcontroller. Need to monitor bacteria growth in agar? Make an optical density measurement device with a green LED, a phototransistor, and an Arduino. Pick up an old Gel Electrophoresis device on eBay and power it with a low-current 100 VDC power supply of your design.

In addition to the CRISPR kit, I’ve had good luck with the fluorescent yeast add-on kit ($80). The Odin’s full Genetic Engineering Home Lab Kit ($1,699) is a bit overwhelming.

importantly, a PDF project book.

Just wipe the swabs between your toes, on your kitchen countertop, etc., swab the agar, and then place the petri dishes in a warm place. In a couple days, you’ll see all sorts of bacterial and yeast colonies. You’ll probably notice a distinct odor as well.

I found it’s a good value, but it’s not for the novice. You’d be better off working with the more affordable kits initially.

So, let’s say you’re convinced to at least explore DIY Biotech, but you have absolutely no experience with microbiology. What’s next? First go to Amazon.com and pick up a set of premade agar petri dishes. I’ve had great results with Evviava Sciences Amazing Bacteria Science Kit ($22.45, Amazon). The kit contains 10 agar plates, some sterile swabs, and, most

Next, I’d try a kit from Amino Labs. I’ve used the Engineer-it Kit ($33) with great success. It’s fun and you’ll get to pour your own agar plates and mix the DNA. The kit comes with everything you need. There’s also a Udemy course that’s linked to the project.

So, stay tuned! I’ll have a few follow-up articles in Nuts & Volts to gauge reader interest in DIY Biotech. By the way, if you’re of age and want to try your hand at the oldest DIY Biotech practice on the planet, then consider the Bro oklyn Brew Shop Everyday Beer Making Kit ($40, Amazon). If you can boil water, then you can brew beer.

Plus, you can always buy additional yeast if you want to try your hand at green fluorescent beer.

If you’re ready for more of a challenge, then consider the CRISPR

NV

READER FEEDBACK

Music to My Ears

Bryan Bergeron’s editorial in the May/June issue has really hit home. It was just last year I dusted off my 10 year old stereo amp and large speakers to really hear how terrible the latest MP3s have become.

Having listened to them for the last several years using only headphones or small speakers on the computer, I was blown away concerning all the nuances that I missed in the latest songs and how full the music really seemed. Sad to say, I now miss the fully enveloping sounds during my runs. However, I can’t wait to get home to really listen once again.

Russ Wizinsky

Your comments are much appreciated. I assume/hope someone out there at Bose or maybe even Apple is working on a set of tiny earbuds that reproduce the REAL sound that can be had from a pair of old fashioned theater speakers.

Bryan Bergeron

Contributing to the Cause

I have been passing around articles to local ham clubs I thought would be of interest from Nuts & Volts issues.

I know at least six people have joined the magazine as a result of just my feeble efforts. Many more are looking the mag over and are considering joining Nuts and its sister publication, SERVO Magazine, including my 15 year old niece near Seattle who wants to be an EE. I introduced your mag to her classes.

You are doing a great job as the interest I see locally from 16 to 82 year old citizens can attest. You are helping us generate more EmComm volunteers. You folks are making a bigger impact than the aggregate numbers might tell. Quality followers will stay subscribers longer. We need radio folk without gray hair ... you are a really important cog in the national infrastructure.