What we’re about
Become a member of the first community biology lab in the East Bay. A place to explore, learn, work on fun projects and tinker with biology. Open to biotech professionals, hobbyists, and citizen scientists. No bio background needed! Be part of our community of creative thinkers, hackers and mad scientists!
Become a member! https://www.counterculturelabs.org/join
You can also check us out on Instagram!
If you have any questions you can reach us by filling out our contact form
Want to support youth education and the next generation of citizen scientists? Make a donation to fund our educational programs!
Featured event
Wet-Lab Plant Genetic Engineering Workshop 🧬 (Take-home Kit included!)
Welcome to the Plant Genetic Engineering Workshop! Join us at Counter Culture Labs (4799 Shattuck Ave., Oakland, CA 94609) for a hands-on experience in inserting genes into plants! This is an introductory workshop - attendees of all backgrounds are welcome, non-bio folks especially.
Learn about fundamental DNA tools, understand how agrobacterium is used as a vehicle for delivering genes into plants, gain wet-lab experience with sterile microbial culture, and insert a gene encoding for production of beetroot pigment into tobacco, all in one day. Participants will also take home a plant genetic engineering kit! After successful transformation, plant leaves will turn red in a matter of days.
Kit components (provided by the instructor):
- Nicotiana tabacum plant with pot and soil
- Agrobacterium with RUBY Plasmid
- Petri dish with LB agar
- Inoculation loops
- Infiltration buffer
- Blunt syringes
- Pipettes
- Nitrile gloves
- Bleach
The workshop fee is $250. Venmo @ccl-plantbio. Last four digits phone # confirmation: 6986. Message the organizer on Meetup if you need an alternate payment method. This covers instruction, the materials and equipment used in the class, and the take-home genetic engineering kit.
Required lab attire for safety: Long pants and closed-toed shoes.
Unable to attend? Interested in other classes like plant tissue culture and bioluminescent algae? Join our mailing list to hear about upcoming Bay Area workshops!
About the Instructor
Anthony Neil Tan is a UC Berkeley trained bioengineer whose projects center on enhancing high-value plants through genetic engineering. His past work ranges from designing a plant growth chamber that won a national NASA contest to developing new plant genetic engineering tools at the U.S. Department of Energy's Joint BioEnergy Institute.
No refunds can be issued.
Upcoming events
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- $20.00
Mushroom Monday: Open Labs
Counter Culture Labs, at the Omni Commons, 4799 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA, USJoin Counter Culture Labs for an exciting journey into the realm mycology, DIYbio, and citizen science. Don't miss this opportunity to unleash your creativity and explore fungi while connecting with like-minded individuals passionate about creating a better world through science. Let's come together, for an afternoon of learning, collaboration, and inspiration. Connect with the host for more detailed information for each session, workshop content cycles repeat quarterly. Wild mushroom forays are seasonal and dependant on weather events.
Exploring the Kingdom of Fungi: Adventures in Mushroom Science
Get ready to embark on a fantastic journey through the enchanting world of mushrooms. Counter Culture Labs proudly presents an immersive open laboratory focused on the wonders of fungi and their important role in our everyday lives. Join us for an engaging workshop where we will uncover the secrets of mycology, from the science behind fungi to their creative applications. Discover how mushrooms can revolutionize our environment, improve health, and promote sustainable practices. This event is perfect for science educators, curious minds, and anyone interested in the magical realm of mycology. Connect with fellow enthusiasts, experiment with mushroom cultivation, and explore the captivating field of bioinformatics. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned fungi aficionado, this event offers something for everyone. Join us for an afternoon of learning, sharing, and discovering the extraordinary wonders hidden within the world of mushrooms.
Can't attend but still want to get in touch? You can reach us via our contact form!2 attendees 
•OnlineSynthetic Biology, Biohacking & Cheese - Real Vegan Cheese Admin call
OnlineThe Real Vegan Cheese (https://realvegancheese.org/) project is an award-winning collaboration between Counter Culture Labs and our sister lab BioCurious (http://www.biocurious.org/) in Sunnyvale, to make real cheese without using any animals!
Real Vegan Cheese is a grassroots, non-profit research project working to produce real cheese using cellular agriculture. We add the genes for cheese proteins to yeast and other microflora, and turn them into little protein factories, then make real cheese by adding plant-based fats and sugars. Real Vegan Cheese is not a cheese substitute -- the cheesemaking process is just like using cow or goat milk! We are dedicated to Open Science and making sure the results of our research are available to the global community to enable a sustainable animal-free dairy industry.
We alternate Admin and Science meetups every other week. This week will be an Admin meeting, so expect to talk about website design, business plans, improving our outreach efforts on social media, and more. Want more science instead? Come join us next week!
Please sign in on Meetup to see the Zoom connection info.
Can't attend but still want to get in touch? You can reach us via our contact form!
Want to support youth education and the next generation of citizen scientists? Make a donation to fund our educational programs and community projects!3 attendees![CCL Working Meeting and Drop-In [ONLINE]](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/3/4/a/e/highres_460273486.jpeg)
•OnlineCCL Working Meeting and Drop-In [ONLINE]
OnlineCome join us to help build YOUR lab. CCL is a 100% unpaid-volunteer-after-hours-run labor of love. There is no "staff" - just a bunch of people figuring out together what needs to get done. Help pitch in to build something amazing together!
Drop in to our weekly online meeting to meet us and talk about your project idea! We also spend this time as volunteers to help keep the lab running. RSVP on Meetup for Zoom link.
Can't attend but still want to get in touch? You can reach us via our contact form!
Want to support youth education and the next generation of citizen scientists? Make a donation to fund our educational programs and community projects!3 attendees
•OnlineWeekly Pandemic Chat
OnlineThis is a weekly zoom call hosted by the Counter Culture Labs and BioCurious communities, for anyone interested in reviewing the week's science and news on COVID-19. Plus guest stars monkeypox, Ebola, RSV and influenza. We welcome your questions and are happy to discuss any articles or news you may have found.
Please sign up for this free event on Meetup to see the Zoom connection info.
Want to support youth education and the next generation of citizen scientists? Make a donation to fund our educational programs and community projects!2 attendees
Past events
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