Help:Requesting Parts

Revision as of 16:09, 18 August 2010 by Meagan (Talk | contribs)

Our goal for the Spring 2010 Distribution was to create a kit with high quality confirmed parts. However, this means that unlike previous years, not all the parts available through the Registry are available in the 2010 distribution kit. If you are interested in using a part that is not available in the 2010 kit, feel free to make a request.

Is your part available?

Not all the parts on the registry are available for request. The easiest way to identify if a part is available would be to look at the part's status, located at the top right of the part's main page. We are only able to send out parts that are listed as "Available."

DNA Status Available.png

We should also be able to provide a part that is listed as "Sent" from the 2008 submissions.

How to make a request

You can email requests to hq (at) igem . org. The subject should be along the lines of "Part Request: [Your Team's Name]."

Be sure to include the following:

  1. iGEM team or lab name
  2. part name
  3. plasmid and resistance
  4. source plate and well

This information can be found when you click the "Get This Part" link on the part's main page.

Lastly, if there is a change in shipping address from the one listed on your team/lab page, please notify us.


Note: You must be a member of an iGEM team or Registry lab group in order to obtain parts from the Registry. If you would like to become part of the Registry see the Users & Groups page] for instructions.

A few things to keep in mind

  • We send out our part requests as agar stabs. The shelf life of these are short, so it is usually best to plate from the stab as soon as possible.
  • Most of the part's available through the registry have undergone quality control testing. Prior to requesting a part please take a look at this information, as it may affect your decision to use the part. An overview of the part's information can be found from the "Get This Part" link. See here if need help interpreting QC results.
  • Prior to making a request it is helpful to consider all of the parts that the team needs for your project. We prefer bundling part requests together rather than receiving several small requests, as this cuts down shipping costs and improves efficiency.

Shipping Times

For shipments within the United States shipping times are generally no more than two days through FedEx. For international shipments, shipping times through DHL can differ by a number of days depending on the receiver's address.

Using agar stabs

  • The agar should already have a hole from when it was stabbed. With an inoculating loop dipped into the stab, you can plate directly onto a petri dish with the appropriate antibiotic.
  • Incubate the dish overnight at 37C (14-16hr)
  • Pick a single colony from the dish to inoculate LB broth with he appropriate antibiotic
  • Grow inoculated broth for 10 hours (37C)
  • Make a glycerol from the broth (10-15% glycerol)
  • Run any QC tests from the broth used to make the glycerol or from your new stock glycerol