Difference between revisions of "Group:Biohacking"

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We are the '''biohacking''' or '''DIY biology''' group at the London Hackspace, a mix of amateur and professional biologists, attracted by the potential of molecular and synthetic biology. Anyone is welcome, so get involved! It's fascinating, the field and community is growing all the time, together with the ability of amateurs to do cool stuff. Over the past year we've been developing our equipment, optimising techniques and running some research projects. Here's quite a good short [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-19964886 local news video] showing our lab and some of what we do in it.
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We are the '''biohacking''' or '''DIY biology''' ([http://openwetware.org/wiki/DIYbio/FAQ Official FAQ about DIY-Biology]) group at the London Hackspace, a mix of amateur and professional biologists, attracted by the potential of molecular and synthetic biology. Anyone is welcome, so get involved! It's fascinating, the field and community is growing all the time, together with the ability of amateurs to do cool stuff. Over the past year we've been developing our equipment, optimising techniques and running some research projects. Here's quite a good short [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-19964886 local news video] showing our lab and some of what we do in it.
  
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[[:Category:Biohacking|List of biohacker wiki pages.]]
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[[:Category:Biohacking|'''List of biohacker wiki pages.''']]
  
 
We also maintain an outward facing website at [http://biohackspace.org/ BioHackspace.org]
 
We also maintain an outward facing website at [http://biohackspace.org/ BioHackspace.org]
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== How to use this wiki ==
 
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This wiki is intended to be our main place where we share information on our group and our projects. If you want to go to our main, non-wiki, public facing site, go [http://biohackspace.org/ here] To see results, procedures and some discussion of our projects go to the individual [[Project:Biohacking#Our_current_projects_.2F_schedule|project pages]]. For more general techniques and procedures see the [[Project:Biohacking#Our_standard_protocols_.2F_how_to.27s|protocols section]]. For information on getting hold of equipment and reagents, see the [[Project:Biohacking#Our_reagents_.2B_equipment|here]]. Please feel free to add or improve any information, it is a wiki after all...
 
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== Our current projects / schedule==
 
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We're currently working on getting competent in various techniques of synthetic biology: DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, ligation and transformation. Once we can do this, and have been certified as a class 1 lab, we plan to start synbio experiments.
 
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Right now we're working on genetic testing, identifying specific genes using PCR and electrophoresis. We've been working mainly on [[sex typing with amelogenin]] and [[Blood typing]]. In August and September we worked with the [http://2012.igem.org/Team:University_College_London/HumanPractice/DIYbio UCL igem team] to develop a 'public biobrick'.
 
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* [[iGEM 2014]]
 
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* [[Public Biobrick]] (in collaboration with the UCL igem team)
 
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* [[Sex typing with amelogenin]]
 
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* [[Plant species testing]]
 
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* [[Growing bacteria]]
 
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* [[Transforming bacteria]]
 
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* [[Project:Biohacking/Genetic modification|Genetic modification]]
 
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* [[Blood typing]]
 
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* [[Making our own reagents]]
 
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*[[Project:Biohacking/Algal_biodiesel|Algal biodiesel]] (on hold)
 
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*DNA forensics (on hold)
 
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* [[Other genetic tests to try]]
 
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* [[Project:Flow_Hood|Flow Hood]]
 
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===Schedule===
 
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*First half of 2013 - If hackspace move goes ahead, secure a larger area for biohacking, and get the H&S approval to do GM work there. Then do GM work! To start off - transformer protocol, genomikon kit, then GFP.
 
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== People ==
 
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Andy, Ben, Jim, Joel, Leo, [[User:Simulacrum|Lui]], Mike, [[User:Wzdd|Nicholas]], Paddy, Paul, Raphael, Simon, Taylor, Tom, Tonderai, [[User:mycoplasma|Will]], Hamilton
 
  
 
== How to find us ==
 
== How to find us ==
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We also have a special membership for biohacking. Biohacking is more expensive than the typical hackspace activity, and with your membership we can pay for reagents, lab consumables and any equipment we may need for our experiments. The suggested minimum donation is £2 a week, but again, you can come along without joining. If you start to come regularly and use consumables then we'd like you to pay. To find out how to pay biohacking membership, [mailto:membership@biohackspace.org contact us]
 
We also have a special membership for biohacking. Biohacking is more expensive than the typical hackspace activity, and with your membership we can pay for reagents, lab consumables and any equipment we may need for our experiments. The suggested minimum donation is £2 a week, but again, you can come along without joining. If you start to come regularly and use consumables then we'd like you to pay. To find out how to pay biohacking membership, [mailto:membership@biohackspace.org contact us]
  
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== Our lab ==
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== Projects ==
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We're currently working on getting competent in various techniques of synthetic biology: DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, ligation and transformation. Once we can do this, and have been certified as a class 1 lab, we plan to start synbio experiments.
  
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[[Lab|Biohacking lab]]
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=== Current Projects ===
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* [[Project:iGEM 2014]]
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* [[Project:Flow Hood]]
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* [[E. coli GFP transformation]]
  
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== Our standard protocols / how to's ==
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=== Completed Projects ===
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* [[Project:Growing bacteria|Growing V. fischeri]]
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* [[Project:Sex typing with amelogenin]]
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* [[Project:Public Biobrick]] (in collaboration with the UCL igem team)
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* [[Blood typing]]
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* [[Project:Plant species testing]]
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* [[Project:Gel electrophoresis box]]
  
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*[[DNA extraction using Chelex 100]]
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=== Future Projects ===
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*[[DNA extraction and precipitation with ethanol / isopropanol]]
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* [[Project:Algal biodiesel]]
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*[[Biohacking/Equipment/Thermal_Cycler_(Perkin_Elmer_480)#How_to_use_it:|Run PCR]]
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* [[Project:Making our own reagents]]
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*[[Make and run an agarose gel]], then visualise with UV
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* [[Project:Alcohol Flush Genotyping]]
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* [[Project:BioActivator]]
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* [[Project:Biohackers microscope]]
  
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== Our reagents + equipment ==
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== Our lab ==
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*[[Biohacking/Wetstuff | Wet stuff]]: our inventory of primers, buffers, stains...
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Our lab is small in size but we have tried to make good use of the tight space to incorporate all the equipment we need to carry out interesting projects. You can see a [[Lab|floor plan of the lab here]].  
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*[[Biohacking/Equipment/Thermal_Cycler_(Perkin_Elmer_480) | Thermal Cycler (PCR Machine) Perkin Elmer 480]]
 
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*[[Gel electrophoresis box]]
 
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* [[Big centrifuge]]
 
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* Variable V/I electrophoresis power supply.
 
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* [[Incubator with shaker]]
 
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* Two centrifuges - speed ~1400 rpm. Max capacity about 15ml.
 
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* One microcentrifuge: 6000 or 14000 rpm. For 1.5ml tubes. Can also take 0.5ml tubes with washers.
 
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* Various flasks and beakers
 
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* Scale down to 0.1g
 
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* 1-10ul pipette + tips. Tips available for £27.60 from [http://www.nbsbio.co.uk/product.asp?pID=11817 NBSbio]
 
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* 5-50ul pipette + tips. Tips from NBSBio or from [http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pipette-Tips-Yellow-5-200ul-Non-Sterile-pk-1000-/190764709800?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2c6a7677a8 microsupplies]
 
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* 100-1000ul pipette
 
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* Pasteur pipettes (50 for £3 from [http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3ml-Plastic-Pasteur-Pipette-transfer-pipette-bag-50-/160960115642?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Lab_Supplies_ET&hash=item2579f873ba cheaplabstuff])
 
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* 0.5ml PCR tubes. 1000 for £24 from [http://www.nbsbio.co.uk/product.asp?pID=12113&cID=275 nbsbio]
 
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* 1.5ml tubes. 100 for £3 from ebay or 1000 from NBSbio.
 
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* Pressure cooker (goes up to 15PSI and 121°C (this is industry standard, not actually tested) to be used as autoclave. Autoclave tape.
 
  
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===Equipment Pledges===
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We are currently working towards being certified as a Containment Level 1 Lab ([[BioSafety|more details on biosafety classifications]]).
  
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*[[Biohacking/Equipment/LabMicroscope | Lab grade biological microscope]]
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The Lab is the registered office of our limited company, [[London Biological Laboratories]], used to deal with suppliers.
  
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=== Shopping list (See [[Biohacking/Wetstuff|wet stuff]] for sources and prices not listed here) ===
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=== How to use the Lab ===
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Please do not touch things in the lab if you do not know what they are or how to use them. Many items may be hazards to your health if used incorrectly.
  
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* 1-10ul tips (quite a few left but running low)
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Our [[BioLab Manual|lab manual]] details our equipment, reagents, strains and our established protocols.
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* 100-1000ul pipette tips for new pipette. [http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Micro-Supplies/_i.html?rt=nc&_sid=674405994&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1581&_pgn=1 Microsupplies] sells 1000 for £8.90 + shipping
 
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* More autoclavable glass beakers, conical flasks tubes and petri dishes.
 
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* blender for ice crushing
 
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* 70% ethanol spray
 
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* IPTG
 
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* Kanamycin
 
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* Microscope (Tom's is
 
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http://www.microscopenet.com/40x2000x-binocular-biological-compound-microscope-p-9100.html)
 
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* Thermometer for liquids
 
  
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=== Suppliers ===
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=== Equipment we made ===
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Our hope is to be able to use self-developed or open source hardware equipment where possible in order to carry out our projects. Here is what we have done so far:
  
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* [http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/united-kingdom.html Sigma-Aldrich] - Good for custom primers
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* [[Project:Gel electrophoresis box]]
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* [http://www.coleparmer.co.uk/ Cole-Parmer]
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* [[Biobot]]
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* [http://uk.farnell.com/ Farnell]
 
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* Chang bioscience - pipettes
 
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* [http://www.nbsbio.co.uk/ NBSBio] - Good for ladders and cheap agarose (only low concentration) NB: Be sure to navigate to http://'''www.'''nbsbio.co.uk NOT http://nbsbio.co.uk, or their payment system doesn't work. Weird. Standard shipping cost is £15
 
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* Web scientific - Taq and ladder
 
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* [http://www.neb.com New England Biolabs] They sell very cheap taq. We could also look at their restriction enzymes. However atm they won't sell to us as they only sell to universities or registered biolabs. See [https://lists.kentgeek.org/pipermail/lhs-biohacking/2012-August/000817.html this post] and [https://lists.kentgeek.org/pipermail/lhs-biohacking/2012-June/000591.html this] post. Once we have all our registrations for LBL sorted we could try again.
 
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* [http://www.thermoscientificbio.com/restriction-and-modifying-enzymes/restriction-enzymes Thermoscientific] - Recommended for good value restriction enzymes. Not tried yet.
 
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* [http://www.vwr.com VWR] - Big supplier of chemicals, glassware and various lab stuff. Sounds very positive about selling to the hackspace.
 
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* [http://www.invitrogen.com/site/us/en/home.html Invitrogen] We failed their due diligence check. See post [https://lists.kentgeek.org/pipermail/lhs-biohacking/2011-September/000103.html here] and [https://lists.kentgeek.org/pipermail/lhs-biohacking/2011-September/000109.html here]. They have cheap TBE.
 
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* [http://eu.idtdna.com/site?c=UK IDT] - possible source for primers. Haven't tried them yet.
 
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* [http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/cheaplabstuff/ cheaplabstuff] (ebay) - Cheap 1.5ml and 15ml tubes in small quantities. Also pasteur pipettes.
 
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* [http://stores.ebay.co.uk/microsupplies microsupplies] (ebay) - Cheap 5-200ul and 100-1000ul tips by the 1000
 
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* [http://www.bioscience.co.uk/home Cambridge Bioscience] - Not yet used, may supply GelRed or GelGreen (enquiry by Bene)
 
  
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Also see general hackspace [[suppliers]] page.
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=== Equipment Pledges ===
  
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==Wish list==
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[[Biohacking Wishlist]]
  
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{{Main|Biohacking/Wishlist}}
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* [[Pledge: Flow Hood]]
  
 
== Resources ==
 
== Resources ==
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== Proposed code of conduct ==
 
== Proposed code of conduct ==
 
See here: http://wiki.hackspace.org.uk/wiki/Biohacking/Code_of_Conduct
 
See here: http://wiki.hackspace.org.uk/wiki/Biohacking/Code_of_Conduct
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== FAQ about DIYBio ==
 
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* [http://openwetware.org/wiki/DIYbio/FAQ official do-it-yourself biology FAQ]
 
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[[Category:Biohacking]]
 
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[[Category:Groups]]
 

Revision as of 16:56, 26 April 2014

We are the biohacking or DIY biology (Official FAQ about DIY-Biology) group at the London Hackspace, a mix of amateur and professional biologists, attracted by the potential of molecular and synthetic biology. Anyone is welcome, so get involved! It's fascinating, the field and community is growing all the time, together with the ability of amateurs to do cool stuff. Over the past year we've been developing our equipment, optimising techniques and running some research projects. Here's quite a good short local news video showing our lab and some of what we do in it.

List of biohacker wiki pages.

We also maintain an outward facing website at BioHackspace.org

How to find us

  1. Come to the Hackspace Open Evening - every tuesday from 7:30pm. There should be a few of us around to show you the lab and give you an idea of what we do. If you want to make sure we find each other you can email us to let us know you're coming.
  2. Email us here. You can also sign up to our mailing list where we do most of our communication here (if you see a warning ignore it) (Your posts will be moderated unless you're signed up to the list. If you want to be signed up to the list but not receive messages you can change this in the options). You can view the mailing list archives through the previous link or through the google groups interface.

Membership

We're a subgroup of the London Hackspace, and our rent and utility bills are paid as part of the larger space. Most of us are paying members of the hackspace, you can find out how to become a hackspace member here. However it's not essential to become a member just to come along initially and find out what we do.

We also have a special membership for biohacking. Biohacking is more expensive than the typical hackspace activity, and with your membership we can pay for reagents, lab consumables and any equipment we may need for our experiments. The suggested minimum donation is £2 a week, but again, you can come along without joining. If you start to come regularly and use consumables then we'd like you to pay. To find out how to pay biohacking membership, contact us

Projects

We're currently working on getting competent in various techniques of synthetic biology: DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, ligation and transformation. Once we can do this, and have been certified as a class 1 lab, we plan to start synbio experiments.

Current Projects

Completed Projects

Future Projects

Our lab

Our lab is small in size but we have tried to make good use of the tight space to incorporate all the equipment we need to carry out interesting projects. You can see a floor plan of the lab here.

We are currently working towards being certified as a Containment Level 1 Lab (more details on biosafety classifications).

The Lab is the registered office of our limited company, London Biological Laboratories, used to deal with suppliers.

How to use the Lab

Please do not touch things in the lab if you do not know what they are or how to use them. Many items may be hazards to your health if used incorrectly.

Our lab manual details our equipment, reagents, strains and our established protocols.

Equipment we made

Our hope is to be able to use self-developed or open source hardware equipment where possible in order to carry out our projects. Here is what we have done so far:

Equipment Pledges

Biohacking Wishlist

Resources

Education

A primer for synthetic biology

Community

PCR primer design

Proposed code of conduct

See here: http://wiki.hackspace.org.uk/wiki/Biohacking/Code_of_Conduct

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