Difference between revisions of "Micronuclei and Mercury"
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After a visit to the site of the old Hackuarium in November 2018 by members of MáS ARTE MáS ACCIóN, Rachel was surprised to be invited to Colombia by Fernando and Alejandra to join in co-constructing a project with a group of Swiss artists sponsored by ProHelvetia. <br> | After a visit to the site of the old Hackuarium in November 2018 by members of MáS ARTE MáS ACCIóN, Rachel was surprised to be invited to Colombia by Fernando and Alejandra to join in co-constructing a project with a group of Swiss artists sponsored by ProHelvetia. <br> | ||
Concern about a mercury-empoisoned river, the Atrato, which had been recently given 'human rights,' the people living in its vicinity, and hoping to reach people in creative way, the current Hackuarium president, Rachel, jumped at the chance. Perhaps genomic integrity could be protected in the long run with some action... <br> | Concern about a mercury-empoisoned river, the Atrato, which had been recently given 'human rights,' the people living in its vicinity, and hoping to reach people in creative way, the current Hackuarium president, Rachel, jumped at the chance. Perhaps genomic integrity could be protected in the long run with some action... <br> | ||
| − | Perhaps micronuclei workshops will be run with many kids from 3 locations during the next visit? | + | Perhaps micronuclei workshops will be run with many kids from 3 locations during the next visit? (projected for 2020) |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
In Colombia <br> | In Colombia <br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
| + | |||
| + | In Switzerland <br> | ||
| − | |||
=== People === | === People === | ||
*Fernando | *Fernando | ||
*Alejandra | *Alejandra | ||
| + | *Camilo | ||
*Andrés | *Andrés | ||
| + | *Jonathan | ||
*Ox | *Ox | ||
| − | |||
*Steve? (bogota researcher) | *Steve? (bogota researcher) | ||
| − | *Mabel ( | + | *Mabel (quibdó researcher) |
| − | *Bella | + | *Bella (Quibdó co-working entrepreneur) |
| − | *Yuli | + | *Yuli (Quibdó inspirational social worker) |
| − | + | ||
| − | more!! | + | more!! (Including the 'swiss' artists - 3 of 4 in Germany, the people of Colombia, the sponsors of the project, the other groups involved in the river situation, i.e. Terra Digna, and ... you?!) |
=== Main Goals === | === Main Goals === | ||
| − | + | To help people learn about their cells, quantitative research methods, and risks to health, and make the world a better place. | |
| + | |||
| + | === Specific Objectives === | ||
| + | To help people check their own inner cheek cells for levels of observable DNA damage by a classic method, the micronucleus assay.<br> | ||
| − | + | To (perhaps) help provide evidence that 'bio-gold' is every bit as valuable as bio-foodstuffs! | |
| − | |||
| − | (perhaps) help provide evidence that 'bio-gold' is every bit as valuable as bio-foodstuffs! | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
| − | + | Wondering if a picture of this magnificent Colombian woman, who posed so nicely for this photo[[File:Biogold miner.JPG|200px|thumb|right|]], carrying the tools of her trade (no mercury involved!), would be a suitable image for this campaign?? <br> | |
== Background & Inspiration == | == Background & Inspiration == | ||
The trip to Colombia! The people especially...<br> | The trip to Colombia! The people especially...<br> | ||
| + | Studies with micronuclei and mercury exposure...<br> | ||
to add links here! | to add links here! | ||
| Line 52: | Line 53: | ||
=== Setup description === | === Setup description === | ||
| − | Needs for workshop''' | + | '''Needs for workshop''' |
| − | + | <br> | |
| − | |||
The most important point of this wiki page in Hackuarium, is to define the needs and consumables for the simplest micronucleus assay, for 20 participants. | The most important point of this wiki page in Hackuarium, is to define the needs and consumables for the simplest micronucleus assay, for 20 participants. | ||
| Line 63: | Line 63: | ||
For 20 participants making 2 slides each, the '''basic needs for the workshop''' include: | For 20 participants making 2 slides each, the '''basic needs for the workshop''' include: | ||
*20 toothbrushes (always ask people to bring their own, as they say it takes 1000 years for a plastic toothbrush to degrade, and to make sure they are cleaned, as pelleting toothpaste residue with the cells is disappointing!) | *20 toothbrushes (always ask people to bring their own, as they say it takes 1000 years for a plastic toothbrush to degrade, and to make sure they are cleaned, as pelleting toothpaste residue with the cells is disappointing!) | ||
| − | *''' | + | *'''saline solution''' (at least 200ml - can make with NaCl at 0.9% or get physiological solution at pharmacy) |
*'''20 small glasses''' - to put 10ml into each, for washing off the collected cells | *'''20 small glasses''' - to put 10ml into each, for washing off the collected cells | ||
*'''microcentrifuge''' - to pellet cells, this can be anything from a 'close and play' version, to real lab ware, and there is even a cute diy centrifuge that can be made out of an old hard drive, for a really fun extra part of workshops... (to add links) | *'''microcentrifuge''' - to pellet cells, this can be anything from a 'close and play' version, to real lab ware, and there is even a cute diy centrifuge that can be made out of an old hard drive, for a really fun extra part of workshops... (to add links) | ||
*'''40 microcentrifuge tubes''' - two for each participant, to 'harvest' their cells | *'''40 microcentrifuge tubes''' - two for each participant, to 'harvest' their cells | ||
*'''20 transfer pipettes''' - to put the cells in saline into the centrifuge tubes | *'''20 transfer pipettes''' - to put the cells in saline into the centrifuge tubes | ||
| − | |||
*'''one box glass microscope slides''' (x50) | *'''one box glass microscope slides''' (x50) | ||
* optional heating plate - to dry down cell 'smears' onto slides efficiently | * optional heating plate - to dry down cell 'smears' onto slides efficiently | ||
| Line 74: | Line 73: | ||
*'''wooden pinchers or strong forceps''' - to hold slides while fixing cells with flame | *'''wooden pinchers or strong forceps''' - to hold slides while fixing cells with flame | ||
*Methanol:Acetic Acid Solution (about 20ml of a 3:1 mix, i.e. 15ml methanol + 5ml of glacial acetic acid) - this is listed as an optional fix in our standard protocol, but makes the stained cells look much nicer for scoring, so is generally recommended... | *Methanol:Acetic Acid Solution (about 20ml of a 3:1 mix, i.e. 15ml methanol + 5ml of glacial acetic acid) - this is listed as an optional fix in our standard protocol, but makes the stained cells look much nicer for scoring, so is generally recommended... | ||
| − | *'''0.5% methylene blue dye in Ethanol''' (0.5g in 100ml) - to stain the cell nuclei (and micronuclei) blue | + | *'''0.5% methylene blue dye in Ethanol''' (0.5g MeBlue in 100ml) - to stain the cell nuclei (and micronuclei) blue |
| − | *''' | + | *'''distilled water''' - to destain cells on the slides |
| + | *'''gloves''' - to protect hands from dye | ||
| + | *liquid waste containers (x4 is convenient - just glass cups work fine, saline can just go down the drain, but for meblue waste, I prefer running it over an activated charcoal filter, to avoid putting the dye down the drain - then want a '''funnel''' and '''activated charcoal powder''' too) | ||
*'''microscopes''' for scoring (at least 100-400x magnification is best, and being able to take pictures very useful - even cell phones through the objective can work, but many other options exist, diy too! -to add links...) | *'''microscopes''' for scoring (at least 100-400x magnification is best, and being able to take pictures very useful - even cell phones through the objective can work, but many other options exist, diy too! -to add links...) | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | '''Space requirements''' | ||
| + | |||
| + | Anywhere with tables allowing space for 20 to collect samples, set up their slides, stain and look at their cells would work... <br> | ||
| + | need water to rinse mouths and toothbrushes, and to wash hands<br> | ||
| + | need power for the centrifuge and microscopes<br> | ||
== Recommendations + next steps == | == Recommendations + next steps == | ||
| − | a complete [http://wiki.hackuarium.ch/w/Micronucl protocol is already in this wiki]. try it out, and tell us how it works for you! | + | a complete [http://wiki.hackuarium.ch/w/Micronucl protocol is already in this wiki]. <br> try it out, and tell us how it works for you! |
[[Category:Work In Progress]] | [[Category:Work In Progress]] | ||
[[Category:Documentation]] | [[Category:Documentation]] | ||
Revision as of 13:01, 9 September 2019
Genomic integrity is a new 'big picture' concept to aid public health efforts and basically includes all the molecular genetic details of cells! While so many things we commonly choose to do can impact genomic integrity (also potentially affecting future generations!), environmental pollution, which we can rarely choose to avoid, particularly when waterways are affected, is a key problem. If pollution by mercury, which pollutes many areas where gold mining is pursued (legally or illegally), and exposure cannot be avoided by local populations, effects on genomic integrity are predicted.
One way to measure such effects of mercury pollution in cells is by using the micronucleus assay, which Hackuarium has been making 'open-source' for anyone interested.
Introduction
After a visit to the site of the old Hackuarium in November 2018 by members of MáS ARTE MáS ACCIóN, Rachel was surprised to be invited to Colombia by Fernando and Alejandra to join in co-constructing a project with a group of Swiss artists sponsored by ProHelvetia.
Concern about a mercury-empoisoned river, the Atrato, which had been recently given 'human rights,' the people living in its vicinity, and hoping to reach people in creative way, the current Hackuarium president, Rachel, jumped at the chance. Perhaps genomic integrity could be protected in the long run with some action...
Perhaps micronuclei workshops will be run with many kids from 3 locations during the next visit? (projected for 2020)
In Colombia
In Switzerland
People
- Fernando
- Alejandra
- Camilo
- Andrés
- Jonathan
- Ox
- Steve? (bogota researcher)
- Mabel (quibdó researcher)
- Bella (Quibdó co-working entrepreneur)
- Yuli (Quibdó inspirational social worker)
more!! (Including the 'swiss' artists - 3 of 4 in Germany, the people of Colombia, the sponsors of the project, the other groups involved in the river situation, i.e. Terra Digna, and ... you?!)
Main Goals
To help people learn about their cells, quantitative research methods, and risks to health, and make the world a better place.
Specific Objectives
To help people check their own inner cheek cells for levels of observable DNA damage by a classic method, the micronucleus assay.
To (perhaps) help provide evidence that 'bio-gold' is every bit as valuable as bio-foodstuffs!
Wondering if a picture of this magnificent Colombian woman, who posed so nicely for this photo
, carrying the tools of her trade (no mercury involved!), would be a suitable image for this campaign??
Background & Inspiration
The trip to Colombia! The people especially...
Studies with micronuclei and mercury exposure...
to add links here!
Protocol (Plan)
Setup description
Needs for workshop
The most important point of this wiki page in Hackuarium, is to define the needs and consumables for the simplest micronucleus assay, for 20 participants.
We can do this workshop for any age from 9 to 99, and hope you will want to try!
For 20 participants making 2 slides each, the basic needs for the workshop include:
- 20 toothbrushes (always ask people to bring their own, as they say it takes 1000 years for a plastic toothbrush to degrade, and to make sure they are cleaned, as pelleting toothpaste residue with the cells is disappointing!)
- saline solution (at least 200ml - can make with NaCl at 0.9% or get physiological solution at pharmacy)
- 20 small glasses - to put 10ml into each, for washing off the collected cells
- microcentrifuge - to pellet cells, this can be anything from a 'close and play' version, to real lab ware, and there is even a cute diy centrifuge that can be made out of an old hard drive, for a really fun extra part of workshops... (to add links)
- 40 microcentrifuge tubes - two for each participant, to 'harvest' their cells
- 20 transfer pipettes - to put the cells in saline into the centrifuge tubes
- one box glass microscope slides (x50)
- optional heating plate - to dry down cell 'smears' onto slides efficiently
- lighter or other flaming device - to fix cells to the glass slide (flame around 3 seconds from below)
- wooden pinchers or strong forceps - to hold slides while fixing cells with flame
- Methanol:Acetic Acid Solution (about 20ml of a 3:1 mix, i.e. 15ml methanol + 5ml of glacial acetic acid) - this is listed as an optional fix in our standard protocol, but makes the stained cells look much nicer for scoring, so is generally recommended...
- 0.5% methylene blue dye in Ethanol (0.5g MeBlue in 100ml) - to stain the cell nuclei (and micronuclei) blue
- distilled water - to destain cells on the slides
- gloves - to protect hands from dye
- liquid waste containers (x4 is convenient - just glass cups work fine, saline can just go down the drain, but for meblue waste, I prefer running it over an activated charcoal filter, to avoid putting the dye down the drain - then want a funnel and activated charcoal powder too)
- microscopes for scoring (at least 100-400x magnification is best, and being able to take pictures very useful - even cell phones through the objective can work, but many other options exist, diy too! -to add links...)
Space requirements
Anywhere with tables allowing space for 20 to collect samples, set up their slides, stain and look at their cells would work...
need water to rinse mouths and toothbrushes, and to wash hands
need power for the centrifuge and microscopes
Recommendations + next steps
a complete protocol is already in this wiki.
try it out, and tell us how it works for you!