Labs
Lab writeups:
Week 1 Lab: Introduction to Pipetting and Dilutions
Overview This first HTGAA lab introduces the foundational techniques of pipetting and serial dilutions — critical skills for precise liquid handling in biological and chemical experiments. Two protocols were covered: mixing food coloring solutions to build volume intuition, and performing a serial dilution of a mystery substance (MS) to achieve a target concentration. Pre-Lab Key Definitions Term Definition Mole (mol) A unit representing 6.022 × 10²³ particles (atoms, molecules, etc.) Molarity (M) Concentration defined as moles of solute per liter of solution (mol/L) Conversions 1 L = 1,000 mL = 1,000,000 µL • 1 M = 1,000 mM = 1,000,000 µM Dilution Formula The core equation for all dilution calculations:
Gel Art: Restriction Digests and Gel Electrophoresis Overview | Objective The goal of this 3-hour lab is to immerse you in the practical world of DNA gel electrophoresis and restriction enzyme-based DNA manipulation. You’ll create stunning DNA gel art while mastering essential techniques used in scientific research! Inspired by Paul Vanouse’s Art project and his Latent Figure Protocol, this lab offers a unique opportunity to blend creativity with molecular biology. By visualizing DNA fragments of varying lengths, you’ll gain firsthand experience in a process critical for verifying DNA sequences.
Opentrons Artwork: Fluorescent Bacteria Pixel Art Overview | Objective In this two-day lab, you’ll program the Opentrons OT-2 pipetting robot to create stunning, glowing designs by depositing genetically engineered E. coli onto black (charcoal) agar plates. These bacteria express fluorescent proteins in vibrant colors, forming “bio-art” that comes to life under UV light. It’s your chance to turn cutting-edge biotech into a canvas for creativity!
The Chromophore Color Cloning Quest Overview | Objective In this lab, you’ll be changing the color-generating chromophore of the purple Acropora millepora chromoprotein (amilCP) to a variety of orange, pink, and blue mutants. First, we’ll prepare two polymerase chain reactions (PCR) to generate the necessary fragments for a Gibson assembly. Using the amilCP-encoding Addgene mUAV plasmid as a template, we will amplify:
Week 7 Lab: Neuromorphic Circuits
Genetic Circuits II: Intracellular Artificial Neural Networks (IANNs) Overview | Objective In this two-day lab, you will design and build your very own Intracellular Artificial Neural Network (IANN) using a library of plasmids from the Ron Weiss lab and human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells.
Cell-Free Transcription-Translation (TX-TL) Systems Overview | What is Cell-Free? A cell-free system allows biological reactions to occur outside of living cells. By extracting and using cellular components like ribosomes, RNA polymerase, amino acids, and ATP, this method enables reactions in a controlled, simplified environment.
Week 10 Lab: Mass Spectrometry
Analytical Protein Characterization via LC-MS Introduction and Background Modern bioengineering relies on the ability to understand biological molecules with extraordinary precision. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is a cornerstone technique for protein characterization, revealing critical information about: Molecular Weight Protein Sequence Protein Folding and Structure In this lab, we follow an analytical progression from intact protein analysis, through structural interrogation under native and denaturing conditions, to peptide-level sequencing of enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (eGFP).
Week 11 Lab: Introduction to Cloud Laboratories
Cloud Laboratories: Collective Art and Cell-Free Optimization Overview | Introduction Cloud laboratories are making science accessible, affordable, and reproducible. This lab showcases how cloud labs enable human creativity at scale and provide a platform for global collaboration. Our goal is to design a scientifically rigorous cell-free fluorescent protein optimization experiment together.
Week 12 Lab: Bioproduction of Beta-Carotene and Lycopene
Bioproduction of Beta-Carotene and Lycopene Overview | Objective In this two-day lab, you will work with genetically modified E. coli to produce beta-carotene and lycopene, key plant pigments and antioxidants found in carrots and tomatoes. Using the plasmids pAC-LYC and pAC-BETA, which encode the pathways for lycopene and beta-carotene production, your goal will be to optimize the production of these two pigments.