Friday, May 27, 2011

More Books



I have picked up a couple of interesting books, a couple of older 1960's books and one a little newer late 1990's:

1) Junior Science Projects - 1967 by the Editors of Science Experimenter:

This book has many experiments you can do and many pieces of equipment that you can build. Such as a milli-microampere detector, ion-exchange fuel cell, diffraction grating-type spectrscope, thermistor thermometer, make your own plastic lab equipment (see picture above) and more. Some of the electronic projects require specific tubes, but I am sure with internet searches you can find other ways to make them. A real interesting read.

2) Exploring Science in your Home Laboratory - 1963 by Richard Harbeck:

This book discusses how to build a home science laboratory for chemistry, biology, physics and geology. It walks you through choosing where to locate the lab, which one you would like to build first. Then helps you set it up, from building a work bench with shelves and then a way to remove the air if you don't have a window in your area. From here it helps you build different lab equipment for your lab, such as a simple electric heater, alcohol lamp, drying and sterilizing oven, test tube racks, stands, beam balance and more. This book must have been a real gem back in it's day.

3) A Low Cost Approach to PCR - 1998 by Eva Harris:

This is a good book for the DIYBIO groups. The low cost approach outlined in this book can be useful for the DIYBIO group. It provides a description of the theoretical basis of the technique and practical details of the method. There is a section on materials and chemicals needed in your lab. A section on building your own equipment ie. electohoresis chamber, micro centrifuge, etc. A section on preparing your reagents. I believe a very useful book for the DIYBIO person.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi everybody! I am from Denmark and would like to say hello!

Anonymous said...

Hello,

Im interested in getting started with diyBio..
Seeing you have the CSI kit, id like to know what you think about it and if it is a good starting point?

Regards.
Roders.

Lawrence said...

The CSI DNA Laboratory Kit is a very good beginners kit. You learn to perform some basic bio experiments. Such as paper chromatogaphy, 4 or 5 DNA extractions and gel electrophoresis.

The kit gives some basic equipment to get started in the area of DIYBIO. There is a magnetic mixer, 3-speed centrifuge and more. I will do a posting of more details on this kit soon. Most of the info of the experiments can be found online, but I believe that this kit would help get you started very easily. So yes I believe it is a good starting point.