DIYBio

"This tree is from an analysis of small subunit rRNA sequences sampled from about 3,000 species from throughout the Tree of Life. The species were chosen based on their availability, but we attempted to include most of the major groups, sampled very roughly in proportion to the number of known species in each group (although many groups remain over- or under-represented). The number of species represented is approximately the square-root of the number of species thought to exist on Earth (i.e., three thousand out of an estimated nine million species), or about 0.18% of the 1.7 million species that have been formally described and named." - Mackenzie Cowell via Bookmarklet

Just a bit biased towards multicellular eukaryotes. The Hillis lab should put up a tree where they choose the organisms based on rRNA sequence diversity. - John Eargle

""X, Y, Z and U" will open June 4 at the Outpost for Contemporary Art in L.A.'s Highland Park neighborhood. Featured artists include Kim Abeles, Kelly Jaclynn Andres, Jason Bobe, Mackenzie Cowell, Liz Kueneke, Andrea Polli and Chuck Varga. The show is designed to address a series of philosophical questions: Where is science and how do we interact with it? Who maps information, and who has access? Can anyone participate in genomic research?" - Jason Bobe via Bookmarklet

Exploratory biology includes self-discovery. See also Kay Aull and HFE. HT genomeboy.com - Jason Bobe via Bookmarklet

"This agreement puts into action the words of Chad Holliday, DuPont Chairman and CEO, and Environmental Defense President Fred Krupp in the June 14, 2005 edition of the Wall Street Journal: "An early and open examination of the potential risks of a new product or technology is not just good common sense – it's good business strategy." The two organizations now have released a draft framework to establish a process for ensuring the responsible development of nanoscale materials, which can then be widely used by companies and other organizations." - Jason Bobe via Bookmarklet

"In a sign that genome-mapping is becoming increasingly common, a company called Knome plans to offer its personal gene-sequencing service to the highest bidder in an eBay auction set to begin on Friday and continue for 10 days. The company plans to opening the bidding at $68,000." - Jason Bobe via Bookmarklet

How much DNA do I have? If you and your students have ever asked that question, these plates will provide your answer. These easy-to-use spot plates are appropriate for use with genomic DNA from cheek cell extractions, plant tissue DNA extractions, etc. Simply make dilutions of the lambda DNA provided and your DNA using the dilution tubes, and spot the dilutions onto a DNA quantitation plate, then stain the plate using the concentrated CarolinaBLU™ DNA stain. You can detect DNA concentrations as small as 20 ng (0.02 µg). Materials include 10 DNA quantitation plates, lambda genomic DNA standard, dilution tubes, CarolinaBLU™ DNA stain concentrate, and instructions. Materials needed but not supplied include distilled water and a micropipettor - Mackenzie Cowell

$53 - Mackenzie Cowell via Bookmarklet

tune in or call in and provide some support; apparently Michael Olson has some skeptical molecular biologist lined up to knock us down :) - Mackenzie Cowell

a must read - Jim Hardy via Bookmarklet