BOSSLab Meeting
Jan 29, 2012 6 to ~9:30 PM Eastern

Attending:
Avery
Brian
Dan
Ian
Nancy
Rachel
Yoav

Updates:
Dinoflagellates:
It is difficult to get a good still image of the luminescing dinos. Exposure time is best ~5s.
Rachel is working on quantifying the luminosity and growth rate of the dinos.
Avery would like to investigate manipulating the dinos’ circadian cycle

Electrodeposition:
Ian is still looking for a lab to do the analysis. Next project would be to devise an enclosed deposit that fills with gas from the anode.

Glassware:
Rachel has started organizing glassware into Unambiguously Clean Glassware and Clean? Glassware. Labels are in the back of the yellow cabinet.

New stuff:

Regular meetings will now be held on the first and third Sunday of the month at 6 PM at SPROUT.

Bacteria Printer:
Nancy and Yoav want to make a ‘bacteria printer’ that deposits bioluminescent, fluorescent or brightly pigmented bacteria on an agar plate. She is starting to become familiar with stepper motors.

Experimental evolution of multicellularity:
Ian would like to attempt to replicate the recent emergent multicellular yeast artificial selection / directed evolution experiment listed here http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2012/01/10/1115323109
Expensive materials are S. cervisiae strain Y-55 and β-glucuronidase/arylsulfatase - let Ian know if you find an inexpensive or donation source

Glovebox / Laminar flow hood:
Dan would like to have an enclosed space to reduce sample contamination. Rachel knows someone who made a laminar flow hood using plastic, cardboard and HEPA filters. Avery noted that having an open flame (ex: alcohol burner) greatly reduces contamination.

Webcam:
Avery is working on getting us a streaming webcam. He’ll need the SPROUT router password; Rachel will reach out to Alec and Nagle

Miscellaneous:

  • SPROUT kitchen has been dismantled.
  • Propane tank is now in the shed in front of SPROUT.
  • We briefly discussed remote controlled rats, nudibranchs (voracious appetites), Elysia chlorotica and http://wtf-nature.livejournal.com/
  • Backyard Brains http://www.backyardbrains.com/Home.aspx has a kit that allows you to electronically control cockroach legs.
  • On our bench are are two blue cups containing fluorescent green fluid and UV LEDs in them. Please let us know if they are yours.
  • Avery is growing anemones. Avery would like to grow up some E. coli with GFP plasmid and extract the plasmids so we don’t have to buy them.
  • Brian has been working on weekend projects, but wants to team up on something longer
  • Dan donated three small reagent bottles and a bottle brush. Dan would like to replicate various fish DNA barcoding studies with local sushi.
  • Nancy is working with wireless sensors - Avery has some experience with the platform she is using.
  • Rachel wants to do a bioluminescent installation piece
  • Yoav is part of the MIT Media Lab
  • General advice: “Don’t eat it”