PCR Challenge
Title: PCR Challenge
Location: MadLab
Start Time: 19:00
Date: 18-04-2012
End Time: 22:00
Booking: Free, but limited
PCR here, PCR there but which one to use? We’ve been slowly building up our community lab at DIYBIOMCR, and we want to run the first PCR Challenge! We will be amplifying plasmid DNA, from a few copies to several million in the space of a few hours.
We have our humble MadLab version of a PCR machine built by Alex from HacMan from some parts we had lying around at the Madlab, and the open-source OpenPCR kit which is being assembled at the build-a-lab day on February 29th (link here). Two is not enough to run a race, so we will also have MMU’s commercial PCR to compete against as well.
If you’d like to take part in this experiment, come along to MadLab and spend an evening putting these machines to the test. We will discuss what PCR is and why it’s useful. Because it takes awhile to run the machines, we will amplify the samples before hand, and this day will be spent processing and visualising the results from the previous PCR-ing using gel electrophoresis, again using equipment built ourselves at the build-a-lab day. This will involve pouring the gels, running them and staining the gels.
There’ll be pipetting! There’ll be agar*! There’ll be plasmids! And, as if that’s not enough, there will also be DNA origami to fold, snails to look at and lots of tea, coffee and cakes.
* Okay not Agar (which is available in Chinatown), but the purer form Agarose which gives us the “gel” part of gel electrophoresis.
DIYBIO November 16th Meet Up
Description: Join the Manchester DIYBio group for their regular meet up
Date: 16-11-2011
Start Time: 19:00
End Time: 21:00
Join us to talk about our recent DIYBio adventure, the first UK DIYBio Summit. (more…)
DIYBio UK Summit
DIYBio UK Summit
Location: MadLab
Description: Citizen scientists are invited to the first ever UK summit on “DIY biology”: this growing movement takes biology out of the ivory tower and into the hands of everyone!
Date: 29-10-2011
Start Time: 10:00
End Time: 18:00
- DIYbio MCR Summit
The First UK DIYBio Summit
29th-30th October, Madlab
Citizen scientists are invited to the first ever UK summit on “DIY biology”: this growing movement takes biology out of the ivory tower and into the hands of everyone! We’ll bring together a diverse group of leading scientists and curious amateurs to share expertise and experiences. (more…)
DIYBIO October 19th Meet Up
DIYBIO October 19th Meet Up
Location: MadLab
Description: Join the Manchester DIYBio group for their regular meet up
Date: 19-10-2011
Start Time: 19:00
End Time: 21:00
It’s nearly time for the Manchester Science Festival, and we need to prepare! At this month’s meeting we’ll make final adjustments to the Microbe Map so it can be presented at the Art of Microbiology exhibition, get our kit ready for demonstrating at the UK DIYBio Summit, and give the snails coaching in their presentation skills*. (more…)
DIYBIO Octopus Dissection Workshop
DIYBIO Octopus Dissection Workshop
Location: MadLab
Description: Learn about the wondrous cephalopod – the octopus by looking inside with an expert
Date: 11-09-2011
Start Time: 11:00
End Time: 17:00
Booking: Essential, places limited
Octopuses are highly intelligent creatures. Find out more about these amazing animals with Dr Brian Degger at the DIY dissection workshop. You will get a unique insight and appreciation of this organism that only dissection can bring. No science experience necessary, just enthusiasm, and a willingness to wield a scalpel.
DIYBIO MCR August 31st meet-up
DIYBIO MCR
Location: MadLab
Description: Open to all, get involved in some do-it-yourself biology experiments!
Date: 31-08-2011
Start Time: 19:00
End Time: 21:00
The snails live! It seems that we’ve got a host of snail-babies in the Madlab tank, so it’s time to decide what our selective breeding experiment will look like.
We’re also hoping to have updates from Team Kit and Team Microbe about what they’ve been up to this month. (more…)
Microbe Picnic
Microbe Picnic
Location: MadLab
Description: A microbe-inspired picnic
Date: 21-08-2011
Start Time: 12:00
End Time: 17:00
Who’s going to be there, and what are you going to bring? I’ve set up a doodle poll to get some idea of numbers, so it would be great if people could sign up to that:
http://www.doodle.com/4rghm9gdv2mn2enq
Post here to the list what you’re thinking of bringing so we don’t get too many duplicates! (more…)
DIYBIO July 20th meeting
Location: MadLab
Description: Open to all, get involved in some do-it-yourself biology experiments!
Date: 20-07-2011
Start Time: 19:00
End Time: 21:00
DIYBIO MCR – Wednesday 20th of July
This month’s DIYBIO is about teamwork. Now that the teams are chosen (alternative team names are welcome – mascots optional) we’ld like to get on with summer projects.
All our hard will be rewarded during the Microbe Picnic in August (date TBC).
The Team’s are named, the Team’s co-cordinators are chosen, we need you diybio-ers to choose your team. We have three discussions for each team on the google group, please leave a message under the team you are in! (http://groups.google.com/group/diybiomcr)
Team Microbe – Continuing the work started by the whole group on Manchester Microbe Map. The data is all in, but needs to be analysed we will soon report back with something interesting!
Team Kit – Will be developing home made versions of the lab equipment that is used for DNA fingerprinting. (Asa please can you let us know what exciting experiment you have organised…..)
Team Snail – Queen snails need some TLC, Beks is on the case and will top them up starting a new experiment.
If you want to get involved in any of these projects, take part in discussions or recommend a new topic, join the mailing list and come to next month’s meeting! (http://groups.google.com/group/diybiomcr)
DIYBIO June 22nd meeting
DIYbio June meeting
Location: MadLab
Description: Open to all, get involved in some do-it-yourself biology experiments!
Date: 22-07-2011
Start Time: 19:00
End Time: 21:00
This month we’ll be having a joint session with HACman, to pick their brains on building homemade equipment for doing DNA analysis. We’ll also be having a discussion on the recent E-coli outbreak in Europe. What does this tell us about bacterial sex and how microorganisms make us ill?
Work will also be continuing on ongoing projects such as analysing the Manchester Microbe Map, and setting up new ones: do you fancy doing some snail breeding?
April DIYBio Meet Up
An open invitation to the first meeting “proper” of the Manchester DIYBio group. We are meeting on the 20th of April, from 7pm – 9pm at the MadLab.
This month we’ll be concentrating on our Manchester Microbe Map, and will unveil initial test results from the pilot study! Anyone interested
in participating in the full survey of Manchester’s public places should come along to find out more.
We need your ideas on which places to sample, and why they’d be interesting. As a group, we’ll design the experiment, with assistance from our resident experts. We’ll learn how to carry out microbial experiments safely and effectively, and discuss the various practical
and ethical issues associated with the project.
Most of all, we need your enthusiasm, as well as you input on how DIYbio Manchester should develop over the coming months!
After the discussion we’ll get ‘hands on’ and learn how to grow some of our own bacteria, in a practical microbiology session.
We’ll also have a discussion and vote about a big summer science project. Bring your ideas!
To find out more, join the discussion on the new Google group at