Comments+on+Household+Molecular+Biology

We know that we can run gels with Tang, Crystal Light (both citrate), and aquarium phosphate buffers (the best). Foodgrade agar-agar can be used.

Boxes should be able to be made with batteries, copper wire, and tupperware, but we've not built one yet.

We've yet to test all of the RIT clothing dye colors for their ability to stain DNA. Can purchase methylene blue solution from some PetSmart Stores. Have not tried it; is it concentrated enough?

We've yet to try and create a homemade "microfuge."

How could we make something like a DNA ladder? Perhaps with some kind of shearing regime?

What can we do with crude DNA extracts and no enzymes? Shearing. But what else? A crude restriction endonuclease preparation may be possible with a microcentrifuge and microbes grown from store-bought dietary supplements.