Arduino Mega

From: http://arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoBoardMega

Overview

The Arduino Mega is a microcontroller board based on the ATmega1280 (datasheet). It has 54 digital input/output pins (of which 14 can be used as PWM outputs), 16 analog inputs, 4 UARTs (hardware serial ports), a 16 MHz crystal oscillator, a USB connection, a power jack, an ICSP header, and a reset button. It contains everything needed to support the microcontroller; simply connect it to a computer with a USB cable or power it with a AC-to-DC adapter or battery to get started. The Mega is compatible with most shields designed for the Arduino Duemilanove or Diecimila.

Open source hardware 2008

The MAKE: guide to open source hardware projects in 2008 from: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/11/_draft_open_source_hardwa.html

What is open source hardware? Briefly, these are projects that creators have decided to completely publish all the source, schematics, firmware, software, bill of materials, parts list, drawings and "board" files to recreate the hardware - they also allow any use, including commercial. Similar to open source hardware like Linux, but hardware centric.

This is one of the new and emerging trends we've seen really take off over the last few years. Each year we do a guide to all open source hardware and this year there are over 60 projects/kits - it's incredible! Many are familiar with Arduino (now shipping over 60,000 units) but there are many other projects just as exciting and filled with amazing communities - we think we've captured nearly all of them in this list. Some of these projects and kits are available from MAKE others from the makers themselves or other hardware manufacturers - but since it's open source hardware you can make any of these yourself, everything is available.

High Speed Photography using the Arduino

Using a laser and sensor to create an electronic trip wire, this high tech photographer used the Arduino programmer to capture high speed pictures of liquid droplets, creating this outstanding collection of photographs.  His photos can be seen below, and you can learn how to make your own with the full tutorial and project code.  Some low priced lasers and other project supplies are required.

Computer models of plant tissue growth and morphogenesis

Cells within a plant meristem form a complex system, and clearly possess self-organising properties. However, there are few methods available for modelling the physical relationships and information exchange between these cells in a biologically relevant way. We have developed new software tools for dynamically modelling cellular morphogenesis in plants. The physical properties of cells have been modelled in 2D, using double springs to describe wall properties. This physical model provides an engine for the production of cells through enlargement and division. The CellModeller program provides an environment for combining physical and genetic descriptions of multicellular growth. Fields of proliferating cells can be programmed via a genetic script to produce and respond to different morphogens. (Haseloff Lab)

SciComp@Cam: Scientific Computing in Cambridge

Computers form an important part of modern scientific research and there is high flux of new technologies and approaches that continually fuel new developments in this field. There is a large, motivated community of workers in Cambridge who are doing exciting work with advanced computer hardware and software. However the work is organised in different fields and institutions, and interdisciplinary exchange is usually difficult. 

SciComp@Cam has been set up to provide an informal forum for exchange of practical techniques and information between students, faculty and interested professionals and companies outside the University. The aim of the group is to bring together people with an interest in the interdisciplinary development and application of computers in science, and to provide a venue for sharing hands-on approaches to use of computers and application of hardware and software tools in science. Regular meetings are held at the Centre for Mathematical Sciences, and you can find linked web resources, including details of people in Cambridge, forums for exchange of news and information, special interest groups, and details of monthly meetings held by the group. Register at http://scicomp.collectivex.com for free access to an interactive forum.

Steven Eglen, DAMTP/CCBI, University of Cambridge
Alex Griekspoor, European Bioinformatics Institute,Hinxton
Jim Haseloff, Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge
Julian Huppert, Physics, University of Cambridge
Alex Kabla, Engineering, University of Cambridge
Gos Micklem, Genetics/CCBI, University of Cambridge
Chris Swain, Cambridge MedChem Consulting, MacResearch

The cheaposcope

Development of a low cost fluorescence microscope for teaching. Over the last decade, biofluorescent proteins have revolutionised the study of biological processes. The ease of use of these fluorescent markers makes them especially suitable for use in teaching. However, instruments for fluorescence imaging are generally expensive.
I've experimented with recent developments in LED technology, optical filters and cameras in an attempt to construct cheaper instruments for fluorescence microscopy and detection. The following pages describe our ongoing attempts - and hope that some may find the details useful. (Jim Haseloff, University of Cambridge).

An automated home-built low-cost fermenter for Escherichia coli.

We have developed an automated fermentation system for cost-efficient upscaling of protein expression in bacteria. The system, built for use by nonbiotechnologists, can be assembled mostly from standard laboratory equipment and allows a largely unattended growth of bacteria to OD 25 (at 600 nm) in a 12 L vessel. The typical yield of 250-350 g of wet weight cell pellet per run, which is equivalent to the biomass obtained from 250 shake flask cultures containing 400 mL Luria-Broth medium each, facilitates the production of large amounts of purified recombinant protein without the laborious need for optimization of expression and purification conditions.

Publication Date: 2008 Aug PMID: 18687068
Authors: Riek, U. - Tuerk, R. - Wallimann, T. - Schlattner, U. - Neumann, D.
Journal: Biotechniques