Things that make us smile

 

                                                          DNA plasmid nanodrop result

Rice callus showing new plant growth

Project GRFT's 2nd Gene Gun

 David checks the 2nd gene gun that he built for leaks prior to it's departure from CCL to Hector's lab.  If there is any leakage in the tubing or valves, helium, being of low density, will escape.  It is this low density of He, combined with its properties of  being non-reactive, non-toxic, inert and diffusible that make it a good choice as a propellent.  

The first gene gun made used gunpowder as a propellent.  This was crude and dirty compared to today's helium powered gene guns.   Good work, David and Hector.

 

boo!

 

Daria Dantseva, Ukrainian Biohacker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-M1hp6w2sc

Here's Daria Dantseva speaking at Biohack the Planet.  From her experiences, she has something of great importance to communicate with us about the crucial role biohacking can play in the 21st century. Bravo, Daria.

Good news today about malaria vaccines

 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-66985273

Media for micropropagation

 Here's Sesan and Hector in the lab.  What are they doing?

They're making callus initiation media.  

Hector adjusts the pH of the media.  

Organisms each have a favorite pH that they thrive on. 

Rice seems to like their food (the media) a little acidic when we micro propagate. 

Later, the media will be autoclaved and the liquid will be poured into plates.  

Agar will solidify as the media cools.

Rice seed will be dropped on the plates to feast on the media, developing into embryos. Rice calluses form, which are clumps of rice cells that will then be bombarded with DNA coated particles using the gene gun.

Several kinds of media are used in stages as we go along.  

Callus initiation media is the first one. 

About a week after the rice seed is placed on the plate with this media, embryonic growth may start to be observed.  

How we make progress: volunteers!

 Do you know that everyone at project GRFT is a volunteer?

Meet Anthony, one of our diligent and hard working volunteers.

Anthony spent the summer taking courses in molecular biology and cell and developmental biology at UC Santa Cruz.  Now he's back and helping out with our work every week.