[DIYbio] Flatbed scanner to fluoro gel imager, was: Re: Re: Newbie: Pearlbiotech Gel Box

Mac,
did you use a filter between the gel and the sensor, and illuminate from above?

On Tue, May 31, 2011 at 8:39 PM, Mackenzie Cowell <mac@diybio.org> wrote:
> Over the weekend Sean Jeffries and I took apart two used flatbed scanners we
> got from craigslist and tried to retrofit them for gel transillumination.
>
> So far it hasn't worked due to high background noise, but I will be testing
> a variety of low-cost theater lighting filters over the next week to see if
> any will eliminate enough of the excitation light for the scanner to
> successfully image the dyed DNA. I'm trying to find light sources and
> filter sets for GelRed and GelGreen stains.
>
> If it works, it could lead to diy plans for a nice high-res gel imager for
> about $40.
>
> More info: http://futurelabcamp.com/2011/boston-flatbed-gel-scanner
>
> I'll keep you posted
> mac
>
>
> On Tue, May 31, 2011 at 5:13 PM, Cathal Garvey <cathalgarvey@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>>
>> I am experimenting with visual dyes so that transillumination is not
>> needed, but mostly to avoid needing/paying for expensive dyes like EtBr and
>> Sybr-Safe/Green. At Maker Faire, Brian, Jonathan and myself tried using
>> Crystal Violet and Methyl Orange together to stain DNA. It was time
>> consuming because you had to stain after running the gel without a dye, and
>> then destain afterwards, but we got decent recults. Not great but ok for a
>> first try. I'm hoping to try an alternative approach soon using CV + MO in
>> the cast gel and loaded with the DNA; hopefully this would get around the
>> issue of wasting time on stain/destain after running the DNA.
>>
>> If you can't afford the kits, you might be able to get someone local with
>> a lasercutter to cut you a set from acrylic. Check sign-makers, they often
>> have/use laser cutters, although they might be bemused, confused or
>> otherwise unable to help with a project of the small scale and high accuracy
>> required. Alternatively find your nearest hackerspace and ask if they have a
>> laser cutter. If they don't, cast your net wider and ask other local spaces.
>> In Ireland, none of our 4.5 Hackerspaces have a lasercutter yet, so I don't
>> know how successful this approach will be.. but many large hackerspaces will
>> have a laser.
>>
>> As to agarose, you have three options.
>> - Buy agarose. It's expensive, but it lasts a long time because you use
>> very small amounts per gel, and it doesn't really have an expiry.
>> - Use agar instead, but expect crappy gels. At least it's cheap.
>> - Make your own agarose by treating agar with pectinase, or by using
>> solvents to vary the gel-forming ability of the agaropectin vs. agarose in
>> raw agar. I have pectinase but haven't yet tried making agarose with it; you
>> can get pectinase from good brewing websites like www.brouwland.com.
>> Caution; in the USA, you're not allowed perform things that are patented
>> even for personal use, which means you'd be breaking a stupid, irrelevant
>> and counterproductive body of law. Just so's you know.
>>
>> On 31 May 2011 22:00, swish <reg3xp@googlemail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> ok, the kit will do the job, hacking the power supply for the first try
>>> should be ok.
>>>
>>> What I am struggling with is that the transilluminator alone costs about
>>> 299$ and the Kit only 249$, so that can't be the same like the one shipped
>>> with the kit!?
>>> Concerning the dye i have no plans at all...but if the transilluminator
>>> works with GelGreen/SybrGreen, this would be my first choice, right?! Any
>>> disadvantages? Is some sort of dye included with the Gel Box and do I need
>>> it for the first start? Where can I order this stuff and how much does it
>>> cost? What about Acrylamid/Agarose?
>>>
>>> Casting Comb: I have no experience with lasercutting stuff and no
>>> equipment. Sounds like you need a good friend who knows about that kind of
>>> stuff to get this cheap and fast.
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> letters.cunningprojects.com
>> twitter.com/onetruecathal
>> http://www.indiebiotech.com
>>
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>
>
>
>
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--
-Nathan

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