Open source.com : BioCurious? The DIY garage biology movement

Would you enjoy reprogramming lab bacteria with DNA from a jellyfish to make them glow green? How about hacking your own genetic data to find out what percentage of the Neanderthal genome you share?  Or building a device that splits water into oxygen and hydrogen? Read more : http://opensource.com/health/12/1/open-labs

Another introduction to Synthetic Biology

An introduction to Syntethic Biology posted on youtube by The university of Bristol

What is Synthetic biology?

On Cunningprojects.com : An Analysis of What #DIYbio Has and What It Needs

DIYbio and its more professionally oriented cousin, Garage Biotech, are undergoing a revolution at present. Essential equipment that used to cost thousands is now available at affordable prices, in many cases under open licensing schemes and open to community development. Knowledge of biology, genetics and the procedures underlying it all is being disseminated in ever-more-abstracted forms to make it easier to get started. And soon, even the biological components: strains, enzymes and substrates, will likely become mass-marketable.

It’s an exciting time to be involved in the development of tomorrow’s technology, and sometimes I find myself stepping back to consider what we have, and what we still need. I may as well share these musings with others to spare them the time, and perhaps to inspire someone with the know-how to fill in the gaps and help make this happen.

Prepare for a long, long post. Read more here : http://letters.cunningprojects.com/?p=132

DIYBio meet-up - Folk Microbiology

It was a night of culture - yoghurt cultures. Vaughn Tan shared his passion for yoghurt with about two dozen captivated future yoghurt makers. He spoke about the biochemistry and microbial ecology of the process - ways to optimize the proteins in the milk, effects of inoculation temperatures, the activities of the different bacterial populations in the culture.

read more : DIYBio meet-up - Folk Microbiology

Open Science Summit 2010 : Enlightenment 2.0: Unleashing the Open Science Revolution

Renowned physicist Freeman Dyson identifies two kinds of scientific revolutions, those driven by new concepts (theoretical), and those driven by new tools (technological).

Read more : http://opensciencesummit.com/2010/05/12/enlightenment-2-0-unleashing-the-open-science-revolution-2/

100 Ideas : Keegotech microbial fuel cell voltage

An arduino is hooked up to measure the voltage created inside a Keegotech microbial fuel cell. Some of the soil microbes in the MFC become electrogenic in anaerobic conditions, and the MFC collects electrons from them.


http://www.pachube.com/feeds/8254

DNA Hackers

Na jarenlange studie van de genetische bouwstenen van de natuur is de mens klaar voor de volgende stap. Van achter onze computer gaan we de natuur anders ontwerpen. Labyrint volgt een nieuwe generatie wetenschappers die in laboratoria synthetisch leven bouwen en zet vraagtekens bij deze ontwikkeling. Want de code van het leven is openbaar en DNA is op internet te koop. Kan iedereen met internet en een DNA lab in zijn garage nieuw leven creëren? Wat kunnen we allemaal maken en wie beschermt ons tegen slechte bedoelingen?

Google translate :

After years of studying the genetic building blocks of nature, man is ready for the next step. From behind our computer, we we will design nature differently. Labyrinth is following a new generation of scientists who in laboratories build synthetic life and challenges this development. Because the code of life DNA is public and is on the Internet for sale. Will anyone with internet access and a DNA lab in his garage be able to create new life? What can we build and who protects us from evil intentions?

http://www.wetenschap24.nl/labyrint/node/132

diyBiology - Domestication of biolotechnology

from 'A many colored glass : reflections on the place of life in the universe' by Freeman Dyson

"Domesticated biotechnology, once it gets in the hands of women and children, will give us an explosion of diversity of new living creatures, rather than the monoculture crops that the big corporations prefer. New lineages will proliferate to replace those that monoculture farming and deforestation have destroyed. Designing genomes will be a personal thing, a new artform as creative as painting or sculpture. Few of the creations will be masterpieces, but all will bring joy to their creators and variety to our fauna and flora."