The PCR Challenge on the 19th of April brought together a lot of eager amateurs interested in the tools and techniques behind CSI-style DNA analysis; looking to see how is it done and whether we could do it too. There are two parts to this process – PCR, a lab technique whereby you select a particular piece of DNA you’re interested in and produce lots of it (amplification), followed by another technique Gel Electrophoresis, the end result of which is a supercool CSI-style gel graph.
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DIYBio PCR Challenge
Monday, January 23rd, 2012Microbiology and Art Exhibition Review
Tuesday, December 6th, 2011The Microbiology and Art Exhibition, which opened on the 22nd October to 10th November 2011 at MadLab, in celebration of the beginning of the Manchester Science Festival 2011.
The exhibition brought together work and cultural heritage, to the beauty of microscopic images, through the impact of infectious disease in history to the use of art to communicate messages about science to a range of audiences, and overtly ‘sci-art’ projects.
Event Review: Wikipedia and You!
Friday, December 2nd, 2011Written by, Evelyn
On Saturday, we dove right in with learning how to add to the collective knowledge that is Wikipedia. There were complete newbies (including myself) to experts who have been contributing and editing Wikipedia articles for years. (more…)
SciFi Discussion – Ender’s Game
Wednesday, November 30th, 2011Last Tuesday Manchester SciFi book club got together to discuss Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. The main characters are three particularly intelligent children who shape the world at the time of conflict with insectiod space aliens known as the Buggers. The main protagonist, Ender Wiggin, is sent off to the Battle School space station where he develops his skills as a strategist. While Ender is unknowingly killing the buggers, his brother and sister, Peter and Valentine, use the blogosphere to gain political power and prevent warring factions from destroying each other on Earth.
Did We Like It?
Whilst some of us may have tried to hate it, the majority of us did enjoy Ender’s Game. That’s not to say it was without fault. Criticisms included uncompelling characters, children who were too self-aware, too many descriptions of battles and a quick ending that felt like it had been tacked on at the end.
The author is a playwright and that came across in the writing style. Initially written as a short story, the first edition of the novel was published in 1985, with a second edition printed in 1991. The second edition contains an introduction which helped readers to understand the circumstances of the characters and the plot. Those of us who had not read this introduction felt that they had not understood the book as well as those of us who had read it. One criticism of the book was that if it had been better written, it would not have need the introduction. It was postulated that Ender’s Game is one of the author’s earlier works and that his writing style has probably improved.
At beginning of each paragraph there was a short conversation by two of the characters controlling Ender’s progress through Battle School. We thought this was not really necessary since Ender was mostly aware of what was going on, however it added extra characters into the story which helped break the battle scene monotony. (more…)
