Complete Genetic Engineering Lab Kit

5 min read Original article ↗

Everything you need to run a professional genetic engineering lab - at home, in a classroom, or in a community biohackerspace.

This kit doesn't replicate a single experiment. It builds a lab.

With the base configuration you can perform bacterial transformations, run gel electrophoresis, culture and engineer multiple organism types, and work through a full range of molecular biology protocols. Add-ons extend the lab to PCR amplification, centrifugation, human cell culture, and plant transformation - putting experiments that once required a university facility within reach at home.

To offer this level of equipment at this price, we source directly from manufacturing partners and build each kit to order. Lead time is 4-6 weeks. That's the trade-off for getting a $10,000+ lab setup at a fraction of the cost.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

  • Run bacterial transformation and CRISPR gene editing experiments
  • Perform gel electrophoresis to visualize and analyze DNA
  • Culture and engineer microorganisms across multiple protocols
  • Add PCR, centrifugation, human cell culture, and plant transformation with optional add-ons

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

  • Core molecular biology techniques: transformation, selection, gel analysis
  • Sterile technique and microbiology fundamentals
  • DNA manipulation across a full range of standard protocols
  • How to design, run, and repeat experiments in a home or community lab setting

PERFECT FOR
Independent researchers, homeschool families building a serious long-term science program, community biology labs, and educators setting up a classroom biotech station. Also a standout gift for a deeply committed science learner.

NOTES

• Base kit ($1,099) includes biological materials, reagents, petri plates, pipettes, and core lab supplies.

• Optional add-ons: PCR machine (+$900), gel electrophoresis box (+$165), centrifuge (+$125), gel power supply (+$150), human cell culture add-on (+$300), plant transformation add-on (price varies).

• Not sure which configuration fits your goals? Email us - we'll help you choose.

• Built-to-order. Expected lead time: 4-6 weeks from order date.

INCLUDED:

Biological Materials

  • Non-pathogenic E. coli (DH5α strain), freeze dried

  • Non-pathogenic E. coli (BL21 strain) with pDusk, pDawn light activated plasmids, freeze dried

  • Non-pathogenic E. coli ( DH10B strain) with pJE202 bioluminescent glowing plasmid, freeze dried

  • Cas9 expression plasmid

  • Guide RNA plasmid

  • DNA repair template

  • Fluorescent protein plasmid (GFP)

  • HEK 293 Human Embryonic Kidney Cell Line (IF SELECTED)

Media & Reagents

  • LB agar powder
    Antibiotic selection media
    Transformation reagents
    Bacterial growth media
    10g Agarose
    50g TAE buffer mix (27g Tris base/23g Tris acetate/0.5g EDTA)
    5g Kanamycin sulfate
    40g of LB agar
    20g LB broth
    100uL Gel Green Stain 10,000x
    1000uL 2x Taq master mix
    200uL DNA loading dye
    100uL 100bp DNA Ladder
    100uL 1kbp DNA Ladder

Lab Equipment

  • A set of 3 adjustable micropipettes (IF SELECTED)
    10K Mini centrifuge (IF SELECTED)
    PCR Machine with power cord  (IF SELECTED)
    An agarose gel electrophoresis box and gel mold w/ comb (IF SELECTED)
    A power supply to run electrophoresis (IF SELECTED)
    Temperature controlled heating pad for growing cultures
    Scale (0.01g - 200g) and weigh boats
    Transilluminator film and blue light

Lab Supplies

  • 30 Petri plates
    Pipette tips
    Microcentrifuge tubes
    PCR tubes
    Supplies from the CRISPR Bacteria Gene Editing Kit
    Supplies from Bioengineering 101 Lab Kit & Course
    Tube rack (4 sided)
    Inoculation loops
    Pipette tips for each pipette (box of 96)
    5 Test tubes 15mL
    5 Test tubes 50mL
    Nitrile gloves
    Agar preparation bottle

Documentation

  • Comprehensive lab manual
    Multiple experiment protocols

Grow and Engineer Human Cells Add-on
In this class you will learn how to culture, grow and genetically modify HEK 293 human cells in culture. No experience needed but some experience is preferred. We will not be teaching basic skills like pipetting which are needed for this class.
Upon registering you will receive an email invite to the online classroom.
Add-on ONLY SHIPS INSIDE THE UNITED STATES - Contact Us for Shipping outside the United States

This Add-on is 4 classes long and will cover

Week 1 Culturing Human Cells

Week 2 Maintenance and Splitting Passaging of Human Cells

Week 3Antibiotic Screening

Week 4 Genetic Engineering

Items Included with Add-on

  • 1 - 25cm Cell Culture Treated Flasks with HEK293 filled with L15 + 10% Fetal Bovine Serum + Amp/Strep/Gent
    4 - 25cm Cell Culture Treated Flasks
    100mL of L15 + 10% Fetal Bovine Serum + Amp/Strep/Gent (Media for growing cells)
    10 - Syringes and Filters
    4 - 12 well plates
    100mL Trypsin EDTA Solution
    100uL G418 200mg/mL
    50 Mircocentrifuge tubes
    Inverted microscope with 3mp USB camera

Genetically Engineer Plants Add-On
This add-on comes with everything you need to start experimenting with genetically engineering plants. We ship you seeds and soil to grow up your own plant. The techniques in this kit can be used on a variety of plants. We send you Nicotiana tabacum. If you'd like a pre-grown plant, email us at odin@the-odin for a quote.

Not provided is > 90% Isopropyl Alcohol for cleaning

*Microscope is monocular inverted microscope with 4x, 10x and 20x objectives and LED illumination. 3MP digital camera interfaces with AMScope Software.

*There is a lot of surplus lab equipment in the US that becomes available to us. We take the best and toss the rest, testing and refurbishing. All equipment will come with a 3 month guarantee.

**Image is just a representation of what you will receive and not the exact items as our inventory changes often. Please email us at odin@the-odin.com if you are looking wondering about the specific items you would receive.

***Microcentrifuge is a fixed speed 10K RPM non-refrigerated with an 8 place rotor  

****Refunds require a 20% restocking fee as these kits are made to order