User:Norman Wang/Projects

Open Gel Box 2.0

• The idea arose from DYIBio discussions in the threads below:
  • Context for cheap bio lab tools / materials 2008.10.20
  • "M'Kenzie in the Kitchen - how to make a gel box" 2008.10.24
  • Gel Electrophoresis Box Design for Laser Cutter 2008.10.27
• FriendFeed "Gel Box 2.0" Room Links

Blue Light Transilluminator

Visualizing DNA without UV damage using alternatives dyes, such as the SYBR dyes, require a less damaging blue excitation light source. However, the cost of the excitation light source at $1090 from Inv$tr$g$n is inhibitory for the progress of scientific research, and calls for an economical alternative. It is this absurd price for a handful of commonly available LEDs (used in your Christmas Trees lights) and light filters (used in photography and special effects in film and theater) that drove me to build this equivalent light box. This transilluminator particularly focus on visualizing SYBR Safe, one of the many dyes used in molecular biology. I hope this effort will spark an interest in collaboratively compile a list of LED/Light filter combination used for exciting and visualizing other molecular dyes.