DIYBIOMCR February was a team building workshop, putting together an OpenPCR. We had about 20 attendees from various backgrounds (even one from Birmingham!) interested in DIYBio. Here is Dan Hett’s summary of what happened.
Last week’s DIYBio was a special event, to get stuck into building a couple of PCR machines. In addition to our home-made one, we also got our hands on what we think is the first OpenPCR machine in the UK.
Getting a bit ahead of myself though. What is PCR?
PCR is a relatively simple and inexpensive tool that you can use to focus in on a segment of DNA and copy it billions of times over. So, even with a small DNA sample, such as from spitting in a tube, or tearing off a piece of a leaf of lettuce, PCR allows to you make a bunch of copies of the DNA so you have enough to analyze. PCR is used every day to diagnose diseases, identify bacteria and viruses, match criminals to crime scenes, and in many other ways.
