BioWeatherMaps

“Self-Assembly Required”

Flash mobs meet consumer-generated science in the new DIYbio initiative FlashLabs, where we’ll be pulling-off a new large-scale collaborative science project annually for amateurs and enthusiasts worldwide.

First up: the BioWeatherMap. Ever wonder how the microbial communities living on cross-walk buttons in Boston compare to those in San Francisco, or Manhattan, or the cross-walk nearest your home? We’re going to find out and you can get involved. Self-assembly required!

Contact Jason Bobe (jason@diybio.org) to get involved or visit

bioweathermap.org for more information.

The Pearl Gel Box

“A built-in transilluminator and casting box for $199!”

Want to get a jump start in DIYbio? The gel electrophoresis box is a basic tool for any DIYbiologist – and we’re making kits so you can build your own. The Pearl Gel Box is cutting edge, open-source, & cheap.

We’ve created a professional grade gel box, available fully assembled or as free design documents. Plus, we want you to design new features like a built-in light filter or a mount for your digital cam.

You can now purchase a Pearl Gel box, which includes everything you need to get started at www.pearlbiotech.com

1centbp – $0.01 Per Base Pair

Is the price of DNA synthesis going the way of Moore’s Law? Let’s find out by tracking the prices we pay for synthesis!

Let’s take a look at the future of the biotech industry by tracking the prices we pay for DNA synthesis. Since the price directly correlate with investments in infrastructure and engineering — Are we investing adequately in foundational DNA technologies? When will we reach 1 cent per base pair?

What’s the best shop to synthesize your DNA? Ever synthesize genes, only to find out months later that the project can’t be completed? Let’s find the *best* synthesis companies and make them shine!

Participate by adding data, telling others, and using 1centbp to help you make your next DNA synthesis order at www.1centbp.com

SKDB

“apt-get for real stuff (hardware)”

skdb is a free and open source hardware package management system. Just like in debian and gentoo and other linux distributions, the idea is to let the user “make” a project but by using all of the packaged hardware out on the web so that the wheel isn’t reinvented every time a new project is started. This includes milling machines, gel boxes, semiconductor manufacturing processes, fabratories, robot armies, wetlab protocols, everything. At the moment we’re working on OpenCASCADE integration. Package maintainers from the diybio and openmanufacturing communities assist others in bringing in projects into the system. Think of this as backend infrastructure.

Contact Bryan Bishop (kanzure@gmail.com) to get involved See also #hplusroadmap on irc.freenode.net for the IRC channel.

SmartLab

“taking the work out of benchwork”

With Project SmartLab, we are aiming to build hardware to augment the benchtop science experience. This includes automatic data logging instruments with painless electronic lab book integration, video streaming with “instant replay” features for those “did-I-just-pipette-that-into-the-wrong-tube” moments, and interactive protocol libraries that guide new scientists and the scientifically enthusiastic alike through tricky protocols.

Contact Jason Morrison (jmorrison@diybio.org) to get involved or visit

projectsmartlab.org for more information.