@willaanderson
Senior Research Fellow @ The University of Queensland. Background in molecular diagnostics, translational science, and physical chemistry. Designer/builder of scientific equipment... occasionally, they even work!
🧬📸 Calling all eDNA enthusiasts, researchers, students & practitioners!
We want to see eDNA through your lens 👀
The #eDNAinFocus Photo Competition celebrates the creativity, diversity & real-world impact of environmental DNA research across Australia, New Zealand & beyond 🌏
🧵👇
I also performed some simple modelling of the LEDS to ensure the central area of the illuminator would be mostly evenly lit. I wont go into to details, but yes, it is. 😅
Also, this was run with my $31 AUD aliexpress gel tank. It rules :D
Okay! I think I have the bones of this cheap gel illuminator sorted. Just got to sort out the industrial design elements for the build so you don't have a bad time if you give it a go!
These video/images are of a 1% gel in TAE with a 100 BP ladder run at 30V for 75 min. I'm happy :)
Working on a “very” low cost blue light DNA gel transilluminator (< $20 USD). Needs some revisions with the LED spacing, but looking very promising.
Will get design files and protocols out asap. :)
(Please note, the wonky gel is not representative of my usual gel quality 😅)
www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009...
Here is a link to the gel tank btw.
Testing a $40 AUD gel tank from Aliexpress. Had to change the anode wire to some 316 stainless steel because the one it came with dissolved. 😅 Otherwise totally fine! (Handles a 1% borax solution at 30 V no issues).
Its great to see this work getting out there! It's no easy feat to selectively enrich and analyse brain tumour derived exosomes from whole blood and my colleagues in Trau Group really put a huge amount of effort into proving this was possible! Congrats!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
My photo “May”d the AIBN calendar! (Not sure about the first half of the caption though 😅)
Hero phage. My go to DNA standard. 😅
I want some T4 phage DNA cause it’s 3 times longer, but this seems to make it 3x more expensive 🥲
Ready to show off some #DIYNAFLUOR units to QLD members of parliament and industry representatives tomorrow evening. The dinosaurs are there for moral support. 😅 🦕🧬
Keep us updated on how the optimisation goes! I’m really interested in trying one of these out :)
I love it!
Reminder for eDNA folks!
Apply by Nov 30th for the eDNA Collaborative’s #DIYNAFLUOR Microgrant to get an open-source DNA fluorometer to support your eDNA sequencing workflows! 🦕🧪🧬
Apply: tinyurl.com/5bpc3ksx
DIYNAFLUOR Info: tinyurl.com/yfh33dsx
@ednacollab.bsky.social
Very very cool 👍
The things that can grow in 10% detergent always scare me.
And here is a link to the wildlabs.net post about the microgrant.
wildlabs.net/funding-oppo...
Find out more about the eDNA Collaborative and the great work they do here:
www.ednacollab.org
Need a DNA fluorometer to QC DNA for eDNA analysis pipelines?
Here's a great opportunity to get a #DIYNAFLUOR through a Microgrant from the eDNA Collaborative! @ednacollab.bsky.social
Application form: tinyurl.com/5bpc3ksx
DIYNAFLUOR info: tinyurl.com/yfh33dsx
🦕🧬🧪
Really looking forward to #CitSciOz25 next week!
I'll be speaking about the #DIYNAFLUOR and some of the outreach programs myself, and others have run using the platform. 🦕🧬🧪
I'll also have a few DIYNAFLUOR kits with me if anyone is interested in building one.
citizenscience.org.au/citscioz25/
🚨 New tool for viral genomics!
Meet CLAE: a high-fidelity Nanopore sequencing strategy that pushes accuracy to Q30, boosts throughput >800 Mb/100 pores, and recovers full-length viral genomes from complex samples 🌊🦠
👉 [https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202505978]
#viromics #nanopore #genomics
Oh that's really great to hear!
You are definitely pushing the limits of SYBR-safe assay with those input DNA masses, but glad to see its holding up! 👍
For most library preps, especially for longer Nanopore sequencing libraries, I suspect this accuracy is probably more than sufficient?
Oh that’s so awesome to hear! Im glad it went well! :)
It’s also fantastic that you were able to make some inter-instrument tests. I’m very keen to see that data! I’ll catch up with Rhonda by email this week.
Congrats on putting together what looks like a great workshop!
Hey, those look familiar! 😅 Hope the DIYNAFLUOR builds went well?
A new initiative looks forward to playing a significant role in mapping ocean biodiversity at scale, particularly in remote areas that are often beyond the reach of scientists through the implication of sailors.
Learn more: bit.ly/3ALL2IV
#CitizenScience #eDNA #biodiversity
A fun little article on the open-source #DIYNAFLUOR DNA Fluorometer and its utility for limited resource researchers on the UQ News page. 🦕🧬
Look at that goofy dork. 😅
news.uq.edu.au/2025-07-dna-...
Also, for those wanting to build fluorescent detection systems that use Eppendorf-style tubes: This why why you don't illuminate them from the bottom. (Unless you want a real challenge. 😅)
Took this photo in the lab today and thought i'd share cause I think it looks neat. 😅
"A lensing effect is produced as LED light passes through the base of a clear sample tube, revealing fluorescently stained proteins in solution."
A small update for the #DIYNAFLUOR project:
We have just released a Mac version of the DIYNAFLUOR software. 🦕🍎
This may be particularly useful for those wanting to QC MinION library preps that are being run on M1-4 Macbooks.
Find the new release on our Git page: github.com/traulab/DIYN...
