A question about urine for biology boffins

[Art]

Put the jar you wish to sterilise in at a minimum temperature of 160 degrees for 2 hours or 180 degrees for 35 minutes.

Just remember to check that the lid doesn't have any sort of plastic liner in it first, and don't screw the lid on tight while it's cooking. That can end badly.

You could always try culturing the sediment to check if it really is bacteria, but you'd need some sort of sterile carbon source as well as the sterilised jar. If you can't be arsed with any of that, try to pour out the liquid and then do a DIY DNA extraction. There's a quick and easy example protocol here which uses stuff you'll find around the house (apart from a 50ml tube, but I'm sure you could substitute something else in for that).

And for all the naysayers, just remember that the element phosphorus wasn't discovered until someone mucked about with their urine!

 

[icedbullet]

Just remember to check that the lid doesn't have any sort of plastic liner in it first, and don't screw the lid on tight while it's cooking. That can end badly.

Good call, I forgot to mention that. I also forgot to say to leave the lid on the jar as much as possible after the oven sterilisation, only open it once its cooled to around 28 degrees to quickly pour in the urine sample, then quickly replace the lid. This will help minimise contamination of the inside of the jar by micro-organisms present in the air. Do not add the urine to the jar while the jar is still hot as that will kill any organisms that may be present (obvious but I thought I'd mention it just incase).

I like the idea of the at home DNA extraction, that should work well and confirm the presence of bacteria/fungi (as opposed to salts or calcium deposits as previous posters have mentioned) in the sample.

Also...post some pics of the results if you can!

 

[NickXX]

pls delete (posted by accident whilst cleaning keyboard)

 

[gropingmantis]

OK one jar sterilising in the oven now. With that DNA protocol I assume we replace the Strawberry with the deposits from the urine?

 

[Bubo]

Do you also like to play russion roulette with a bottle of Irn Bru?

 

[gropingmantis]

Do you also like to play russion roulette with a bottle of Irn Bru?

Is that will it overflow or not?

 

[Phog]

What the hell has this become?! Lol... What are you testing for?

 

[gropingmantis]

To see if the thing forming in my urine is bacteria or some other deposit and if it is bacteria whether it has come from inside me our outside me.

 

[Destination]

Would adding a bit of limescale cleaner dissolve the calcium? That would the prove if it was that or not. Protein still looks likely I think

No, you should not have protein in your urine, if you do, it would indicate a UTI or an STD or both, or some form of kidney issue.
Urine shouldn't contain large amounts of protein or sugar, except the slough you might get from along the length of your todger.
I would think it would be salts precipitating out.

 

[icedbullet]

OK one jar sterilising in the oven now. With that DNA protocol I assume we replace the Strawberry with the deposits from the urine?

Yes, you don't have to use the zip lock bag for mixing, you can use a jar or something. The only issue I can see is the ice cold 95% ethanol. I'm not sure where you would get that from. You could use iso-propyl alcohol at 95% if you have any to hand (you should be able to get it from the pharmacy). Leave it in the fridge for 30 mins or more in a screwcap bottle. I have summarised the method for you to make it a bit clearer. Some of the steps in that protocol are not required (i.e. the filtering is only to remove the fruit pulp crap).

1. Add around 3ml of urine sample to jar/beaker (try to shake the urine before taking the 3ml sample to distribute the sediment/potential bacteria evenly)
2. Add 10ml of the lysis buffer to the jar/beaker
3. Mix/shake the lysis buffer and urine for 5 mins (this breaks down cell walls/membranes of micro-organisms and releases the DNA). Ideally you should heat this to 65-75 degrees to denature (break apart) enzymes which will degrade the DNA. Temps more then 80 degrees will begin to break apart the DNA.
4. Pour 30ml of ice cold 95% alcohol into the jar/beaker
5. Wait for the DNA to start precipitating out in the alcohol (the process begins almost immediately and the DNA will continue to condense for the next few minutes)

 

[salami1212]

its aids. definitely aids.

 

[gropingmantis]

OK got my 2 samples. now we play the waiting game.

 

[Morgoth]

For this to be effective for a prolongued exposure (the urine is going to be in there for days) you'd need lab strength alcohol. Vodka won't cut it. You'd have to burn it off too.

An oven is easier to come by.

It would need to be 70% ethanol for sure, a quick wipe with it would do the trick although flaming the inside of the jar would also be sufficient.

 

[Hxc]

This is really really odd.

 

[russ0r]

Scientific experiments on your own urine

Never change GD, never change.

 

[Art]

1. Add around 3ml of urine sample to jar/beaker (try to shake the urine before taking the 3ml sample to distribute the sediment/potential bacteria evenly)

Surely he'd be better using a small volume of the sedimented fraction to get as much of the sediment in there a possible?

I.E. Place urine in jar, allow to sediment over time, pour out as much of the clear liquid as possible and then work with what is left?

Scientific experiments on your own urine

Never change GD, never change.

This is why GD is awesome.

 

[G-MAN2004]

:/

 

[footman]

phosphates

 

[Ergates]

This is really really odd.

That's what the other cavemen said when they saw Ogg rubbing two sticks together - NOW WHO'S LAUGHING eh? eh?

 

[Beans on toast Dave]

do you crap in a can?