Dionne:Protocols: Difference between revisions
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==Setting up a small-scale ''Drosophila'' kitchen== | |||
This page will include: | When I started my own lab in January 2007, I found myself needing to make my own fly food for the first time. This is how I set up my own fly kitchen, on the relatively-cheap. Much of this was done based on the advice of Ralf Stanewsky, to whom I am very much indebted. | ||
===Cooking and dispensing the food=== | |||
''Very'' small batches of fly food (1 litre at a time) can be made in a microwave. | |||
In order to make larger quantities, I bought an 1800-watt portable induction cooker from John Lewis for £60. This is basically just a hot-plate, but it is more efficient (and hence puts out more heat at a given power consumption) than a normal electric hot-plate. The induction cooker is also a bit less of a fire-hazard than other kinds of cooker. I got a 12-litre pot from a catering-supply shop (£30). | |||
For mixing during cooking, I bought a Heidolph RZR-2041 (£500) with a PR-30 "Pitched-blade Impeller" (£25). There are probably cheaper mixers available, but this one was particularly recommended. It seems to work well. | |||
To dispense the food, I got a Watson-Marlow 323S/D Peristaltic Pump (£755). This model is nice because it can be programmed to dispense a specific volume at the touch of a button. Others have recommended a cheaper Wheaton pump; as far as I can tell, it is not available in the UK. In any case, I strongly recommend a pump for pouring food: it makes this chore much easier. | |||
===Recipes and ingredients=== | |||
I have been using the following recipe. For 1 litre of food:<br> | |||
Agar 10g<br> | |||
Sucrose 15g<br> | |||
Glucose 33g<br> | |||
Yeast 35g<br> | |||
Maize meal 15g<br> | |||
Wheat germ 10g<br> | |||
Treacle (= molasses) 30g<br> | |||
Soya Flour 1 tbsp<br> | |||
Bring to boil, stirring constantly<br> | |||
Simmer 10 minutes<br> | |||
Allow to cool to below 70°C, then add:<br> | |||
Nipagin solution 10mls<br> | |||
Propionic acid 5mls<br> | |||
(Nipagin solution = 25g Nipagin M (tegosept M, p-hydroxybenzoic acid methyl ester) dissolved in 250ml ethanol) | |||
Use about 8ml per fly vial. | |||
I buy sucrose, maize meal, wheat germ, soy flour, and molasses from Planet Organic, a local health-food store. This is fairly cheap and avoids insecticide contamination (insofar as possible). | |||
==In future, this page will also include:== | |||
Working with ''Mycobacterium marinum'' | Working with ''Mycobacterium marinum'' | ||
Measuring triglyceride, glycogen and glucose from ''Drosophila'' | Measuring triglyceride, glycogen and glucose from ''Drosophila'' | ||
Revision as of 09:10, 8 May 2007
Setting up a small-scale Drosophila kitchen
When I started my own lab in January 2007, I found myself needing to make my own fly food for the first time. This is how I set up my own fly kitchen, on the relatively-cheap. Much of this was done based on the advice of Ralf Stanewsky, to whom I am very much indebted.
Cooking and dispensing the food
Very small batches of fly food (1 litre at a time) can be made in a microwave.
In order to make larger quantities, I bought an 1800-watt portable induction cooker from John Lewis for £60. This is basically just a hot-plate, but it is more efficient (and hence puts out more heat at a given power consumption) than a normal electric hot-plate. The induction cooker is also a bit less of a fire-hazard than other kinds of cooker. I got a 12-litre pot from a catering-supply shop (£30).
For mixing during cooking, I bought a Heidolph RZR-2041 (£500) with a PR-30 "Pitched-blade Impeller" (£25). There are probably cheaper mixers available, but this one was particularly recommended. It seems to work well.
To dispense the food, I got a Watson-Marlow 323S/D Peristaltic Pump (£755). This model is nice because it can be programmed to dispense a specific volume at the touch of a button. Others have recommended a cheaper Wheaton pump; as far as I can tell, it is not available in the UK. In any case, I strongly recommend a pump for pouring food: it makes this chore much easier.
Recipes and ingredients
I have been using the following recipe. For 1 litre of food:
Agar 10g
Sucrose 15g
Glucose 33g
Yeast 35g
Maize meal 15g
Wheat germ 10g
Treacle (= molasses) 30g
Soya Flour 1 tbsp
Bring to boil, stirring constantly
Simmer 10 minutes
Allow to cool to below 70°C, then add:
Nipagin solution 10mls
Propionic acid 5mls
(Nipagin solution = 25g Nipagin M (tegosept M, p-hydroxybenzoic acid methyl ester) dissolved in 250ml ethanol)
Use about 8ml per fly vial.
I buy sucrose, maize meal, wheat germ, soy flour, and molasses from Planet Organic, a local health-food store. This is fairly cheap and avoids insecticide contamination (insofar as possible).
In future, this page will also include:
Working with Mycobacterium marinum
Measuring triglyceride, glycogen and glucose from Drosophila
