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Experiments

In our project, we worked in smaller groups on the following goals: cloning of inserts for spider silk, gelatin and PHB into backbones for Pichia pastoris and, in parallel, we were making brick mixtures and testing these materials to analyze their properties.


Cloning Protocols


Brick Experiments

Manufacturing Pichitecture Bricks

Goal: Making bricks of varying size and different portioning of components to test their properties after drying.

Component Purchased
River Sand MERCK. CAS: 14808-60-7
Desert Sand Wüstenland
Lignin Sigma-Aldrich. CAS:8068-05-1
Gelatine Dr. Oetker (gemahlen)
Agar-Agar MERCK. CAS: 9002-18-0
Cyanobacteria from liquid culture Synechocystis PCC 6803
BG-11 medium Recipe
CaCO3 MERCK. CAS: 471-34-1

Procedure: Each brick is made from three components: binder, liquid, structure (solid material). The overall ratio was set as: 30% binder + liquid and 70% solid structure

Step by Step Protocol:

Step # Instruction
1 Add 0.1M CaCO3
2 Weigh the binder in a flask
3 Add liquid
4 Put the flask in a water bath (50°C) until binder is melted
5 Add the solid component
6 Fold the solid component into the mixture. Avoid air bubbles.
7 Use a spoon to transfer the mixture into the molds
8 Let dry and store at room temperature

Testing the Bricks

A short description of the testing methods can be found here.