I spent most of my Outlaw Biology experience covered in guts and smelling of alcohol. Well, it was strawberry guts and rubbing alcohol. But I stand by my argument that it was a hootin’ an’ hollerin’ good time. On my day journey into the wonderful world of Outlaw Biology Workshops, I got to extract strawberry DNA, witness molecular gastronomy at its finest, and work with E.coli. The best part of it all though was mingling with other Outlaws. Outlaw biologists, that is.
I was in charge of the Welcome Wagon and the Strawberry DNA extractions. The gang and I probably performed over twenty different extractions with symposium participants ranging from four to seventy-four. The process was quite easy, quick and required only a few common household products. In five minutes, one can acquire strawberry DNA by simply smushing strawberries, adding soap, and then slowly adding a little bit of rubbing alcohol. To get down the exact method, you can just Google “strawberry DNA extraction.” I had a lovely preschooler assist me with the undertaking and reveled in his glory as he squished the DNA in his fingers like a booger. Strawberry DNA really does look like snot. Although to be precise, the precipitate was not just DNA, but other proteins as well. I was kindly informed of this by a gentleman who was more experienced in the subtleties of DNA extraction.
In my lunch break from the Welcome Wagon, I experienced the magic of Chef Richard Delerins, molecular gastronomist extraordinaire. He set up his laboratory- I mean, kitchen- and demonstrated for all us food nuts how one can create something that looks just like caviar out of carrot juice, blood orange juice, and a few lab chemicals. All 100% human safe, of course. Philip Lukeman, another Outlaw, kindly schooled us in the reactions taking place at the molecular level. The juice mixture balled up into the caviar-like form thanks to the hydrophobia induced by the added chemicals. After adding a little bit of seasoning to taste, we had –voila! — a gourmet science experiment. As a college student, I am most inclined to the suggestion that Chef Delerins’ masterpiece and the Velolab be combined to make one of those portable food carts. Cheap, fast cuisine to go!
During my break I also meandered up to take a look at some of the other Outlaws’ work. Hoards of fellow Outlaw biologists were huddled around workstations and presenters, exchanging different knowledge about DIY bio. I joined up with some people by the Paint-by- Microbe! workstation. Here I got to cut out a picture of a Mexican wrestler from the Daily Bruin, our school newspaper, and apply a solution of E.coli and agar. I don’t know if it worked though, because I am still waiting for it to turn red. I am proud of my own little arts-and-crafts project regardless. Although my roommate wasn’t too happy when I brought it home. She threatened to throw it out when I told her there was E.coli, even though I explained a million times it was a perfectly safe, nonvirulent kind.
After lunch I returned to the Welcome Wagon and continued with my strawberry slaughter. A teacher was quite impressed with how easy it was to do a DNA extraction. Another woman seemed fascinated that she was holding all the instructions for growing a strawberry plant.
“Can you use other things besides strawberries?” she asked.
“Yup,” I replied.
“Can you do this on human tissue?”
“Yup”
“Well, ok now that I’ve got the DNA, now what do I do?”
That one was a little more complicated to answer. But for me it triggered some interesting possibilities in my mind. How difficult would it be to amplify DNA in your home? To create recombinant DNA? What would I see if I took this DNA upstairs to Mac’s workshop on DIY Microscopy, where he converts webcams into microscopes? To be perfectly honest, my whole experience released a flood of questions and “what ifs?” Much of it was due to my interaction, discussion and interrogation of other Outlaw biologists. And so now as I sit underneath the stars on the ranch, with the warm fire poppin’ and a sizzlin’ (ok not really – I am in the reading room at Powell Library), I look forward to exploring some of the many thoughts triggered by my symposium experience. I hope that some of you will share some of your stories as well. Stay tuned until next time for more questions and reflections.
Jilly the Kid
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