November 2016
LowCost PCR workshop
Background The era of personal DNA testing is here, with the diffusion of affordable, personal devices such as BentoLab and MiniPCR. Many DIYbio spaces already offer the possibility of conducting PCR tests. DIYbio gives citizens the opportunity to question the world around them. DNA is in every living being, and each organism has its own particular DNA sequence. PCR is extremely sensitive, able to detect even the tiniest amount of the DNA you're looking for. If the DNA is present,…
Find out more »February 2017
Biohacking: Spectrometry Workshop
Background After the PCR workshop, we continue our adventure in do-it-yourself biology by giving you yet another tool to explore your health, environment and food. This time we'll build a spectrometer, an instrument which is able to detect the exact light wavelengths absorbed or emitted by a substance. In the same way a fingerprint identifies each individual human, from the light spectrum it is possible to identify and quantify different substances. Many DIY spectrometers have been developed by citizen science…
Find out more »March 2018
Grow-it-yourself Mushroom Material Workshop – Part 1
Background The first workshop of this year will be about biomaterials! For most of us, mushrooms are an ingredients found on pizza or risotto. But after this workshop, not anymore. With entirely different eyes, you will see mushrooms as a new building material to manufacture objects, furniture and even buildings. If you think about it, we use living organisms as manufacturing material all the time: furniture is made with trees, clothes with cotton flowers and fur or skin and more.…
Find out more »Grow-it-yourself Mushroom Material Workshop – Part 2
Background The first workshop of this year will be about biomaterials! For most of us, mushrooms are an ingredients found on pizza or risotto. But after this workshop, not anymore. With entirely different eyes, you will see mushrooms as a new building material to manufacture objects, furniture and even buildings. If you think about it, we use living organisms as manufacturing material all the time: furniture is made with trees, clothes with cotton flowers and fur or skin and more.…
Find out more »