As this is a blog partially meant to educate its readers on the process of summer research, I thought I’d write on an integral part of the biological laboratory experience. As bacteria and other living organisms don’t, as a rule, conform to timetables set by researchers, it becomes necessary to come in to the lab on the weekends to set up your work for the coming week. For example, today, I came in to prepare media for a protein induction tomorrow, and to inoculate liquid cultures so I can have some DNA to work with tomorrow. Even with the most meticulous planning, these little visits can only be minimized with respect to their frequency and duration, never eliminated. When your work is progressing quickly, often it’s difficult to stay out of the lab, but when things stagnate for no apparent reason, the Sunday matinee becomes a far more appealing prospect…
However, as good scientists, we soldier on.
Sad news: my catalytically dead clones didn’t come up. I’m going to retry the transformation tomorrow. Another day, another aliquot of competent cells!
Tomorrow: I verify my clones! Wish me luck!
I think there is definitely something special about early morning visits to the ISC on a Saturday…I mean really, what’s better than doing research early on a weekend. Actually, coming in early during the week is better…the cleaning people always seem so surprised. But as researchers we do grin and bear the early and weekend visits to the beautiful place that is the ISC. Oh, and good luck!