Extract-it Kit™: Extract biopigments from bacteria

How do you extract products, such as proteins and pigments, from cells? With the Extract-it Kit, you can discover this firsthand! 

This biotechnology education kit allows you to break open engineered cells to extract the proteins that bacteria have created for you. The kit includes pigment-producing cells, but you can also use your own engineered cells to extract enzymes and more! 

This is a comprehensive genetic engineering experiment that offers real-world experience. It lets you undertake a miniature version of what is used in the industry to produce medicine and industrial products, at the same scale that researchers use for their experiments.

While this kit requires no prior experience, it is highly recommended that you complete the genetic engineering experiment first. If you haven't done so, take a look at the Engineer-it Kit for genetic engineering!

This STEM project kit is a great step in your journey to explore the world of biotechnology, biohacking, and genetic engineering. It is compatible with Chapter 5 of the book Zero to Genetic Engineering Hero book which teaches cell translation and transcription, as well as how to leverage these concepts in biotechnology, synthetic biology, and for your science fair projects.

With this kit you will:

1. Make selective agar,
2. pour Petri dishes,
3. culture bacteria from the included stab or using your engineered bacteria from an Engineer-it kit
5. lyse bacteria,
6. filter-sterilize extract,
7. view/use results.

(1) Plate Extract-it Kit in Individual or Group size: if you will be extracting the pigment from cells, you have grown in a petri dish with your DNA Playground and Engineer-it Kit. Contents: Sterile water, 6cm Petri dish, LB agar, selection marker, lysis buffers, syringes, filter, streaking stencils, inactivation bag.

• Individual Kits: An individual kit with all the ingredients needed for completing one entire science experience. Great for an individual or a small group.

• Classroom/Group Kits: Four individually packaged kits with the needed ingredients to complete four entire science experiences. 1 shared resources bag containing the inactivation bags, which are shared between all participants. Great for the classroom, advanced AP biology, science fair projects, and iGEM teams.

• Instructions: a manual with easy-to-understand vocabulary and step-by-step procedures. See the Resources tab for a link!

To complete this experiment, you will need to have access to either the DNA Playground and the Amino Labs Microcentrifuge or, if you have your own laboratory equipment, a 37°C incubator, a hot water bath, crushed ice & ice bucket, and a microcentrifuge that spins to at least 13,000 x g.

Cleaning and safety supplies are not included in the kit. Necessary safety and cleaning supplies are latex or nitrile gloves, and a chlorinated bleach cleaner or a 10% solution of chlorinated bleach in a spray bottle (you can make this by adding 9 parts water to 1 part bleach in a spray bottle). You can add a Mini Safety Set to your kit which includes gloves and a reusable plastic apron to protect your clothes.

For more information about safety, set up and clean up, you can have a look at the instruction manual for the experiment linked in the Ressources section below, and at the "Practicing safe science" page.

Shipping Times

Experiment kits are shipped 1-10 working days after you place your order. If you require yours for a specific date or event, please contact us before or with your order # so that we can try to make it happen for you! ☺︎ 

Storage

The experiment kit(s) must be refrigerated upon arrival for the best shelf life, and the little bag(s) identified with a "Freezer bag" sticker must be placed in a freezer until use. Note that the main kit bags should never be frozen - only freeze the small bag with the "Freezer" sticker.

If your kits stay at room temperature before you collect it from your mailbox/mailroom/etc, that's ok! Place the kit(s) in the refrigerator and the small bag in the freezer as soon as you can. If you do not have access to a refrigerator/freezer for storage, use as soon as possible, and place it in a cool dark place until use.

For any questions, don't hesistate to reach out to us - contact us