Hardware
In this week, we built a biology lab equipment-electroporator used for transforming plasmid into E coli. We try to reduce the cost of expensive biological equipment, in order to develop and promote open designs for affordable laboratory equipment.
Key Point: We use a potentiometer to adjust the resistance value to control the current change. When the resistance is minimal, huge current can be formed to break through the cell membrane in a short time, and the structure of the cell is rearranged on the cell membrane to form a gap so that the plasmid can enter the cell.
E coli, 10% glycerol, and plasmids kept at 4℃ before electroporation
E coli, 10% glycerol, and plasmids added to the tubes at 25%, 74%, and 1% respectively
Names labeled on the tubes
Two blocks covered by the aluminum foil as electrodes were connected to alligator clips from Diy electroporator.
After electroporation, the sample was transferred into the LB agar petri dish for cultivation.
A few days later, some cells grew in the petri dish. Though it is not as much as expected, the purpose of this experiment is to test and develop cheap DIY biological tools for open source, which will contribute to the establishment of biological laboratories in those underdeveloped areas all over the world.