Overview

Introduction

What is Myces?

Myces is a collection of reference documents that describe how to build and operate a home microbiological laboratory from scratch. These documents are written for someone starting with no experience, equipment, or laboratory know-how and are tailored specifically to working with yeast (hence the name). Myces is also meant to be a living document that evolves with the competence of its author, which is presently not very high.

Doing microbiological work in a homelab has special requirements because single celled organisms are around, on, and within us at all times. It can be difficult to acquire the equipment and materials needed because laboratory vendors typically do not sell to individuals, so some shortcuts and improvisation are required. However, getting a basic homelab to a functional state is quite cheap and easy with some basic glassware and ingredients that can be found, in the worst case, at specialty health food stores.

Although these documents will be published publicly, they primarily serve as a reference guide and learning vector for myself. Factual accuracy and correctness are not guaranteed!

Yeast

The what, why, where, and how of yeast.

Basic Equipment

The bare minimum of equipment needed to get started, and where to get it.

Asceptic Technique

Some fundamental lab techniques to prevent contamination.

Sterilizing vs Sanitizing

The difference between sterilizing and sanitizing and how to do them.

Agar Plates

How to cast agar plates, and agar recipes.

Streak Plates

How to move yeast from substrate to agar.

Isolation and Propagation

Isolating a yeast colony from an agar plate and propagating it elsewhere.

Banking

How to preserve yeast colonies for long term term storage.

Transformation

How to genetically transform yeast the old-fashioned way.