We have a new research assistant at work... [Welcome aboard, Rae!] So, being new, she will be going through some training, which yours truly (me lah!) was given the opportunity to join in. My colleagues are so sweet to include me!! =)
There was a demo on how to do PCR (polymerase chain reaction), followed by cloning (involving ligation and transformation), on Monday. Yeah, you heard it right... Cloning, man!! Me... doing cloning... hehehe!! Yesterday was Rae's turn to hands-on what was demonstrated on Monday, and today was mine. Hence, I was spending most of the day in the labs... brought my laptop to work, as usual, but didn't get a chance to even turn it on, haha!
The first part of the day was preparing the PCR reaction. PCR basically is to make many many copies of a desired fragment of DNA. Fooyoh... I sound so smart ler... haha!! Eh, almost 7 months in this new place, new 'field'... at least know a little bit la, hehe! The first few months was horribly torturing - imagine having a little bit of surface knowledge on basic PCR back in pre-uni, and choosing to drop (the subject) Biotechnology in uni! What and how much do you suppose I'd remember?! Practically have to learn all over again lor... and even deeper into the subject, since there's both theory and application.
So anyway, preparing for PCR took about an hour... Then put into machine (yeah, got machine lar... ah but then?) for the next 2.5 to 3 hours. So, when the machine 'took over' the work, got some free time. That time got no space to sit at my place, hehe. Colleague doing some work there. So, laptop cannot turn on and use lor. Have to borrow someone else's computer to quickly check email. As usual, email oso not much happening there lor, sigh. So, ended up discussing the procedure for the next part - cloning!!
Once the PCR finished, did ligation. Erm... ligation ah... ahem... oh dear, can't remember what it is now... Lemme think... Okay, ligation is something like joining the fragments of DNA (remember the fragment that was multiplied in PCR?) into a plasmid vector (vector is something like a carrier) to form a ring (containing the desired DNA), which is then inserted into living bacteria cells that will multiply, making even more copies of the desired DNA....
Confused?? Hehe, hope not...
After ligation, went for lunch lor. After lunch, did transformation, which is the insertion of the plasmid vector + desired fragment of DNA into living bacteria cells. By the time that was done, it was already 4pm. Spread the cells onto an agar plate containing growth media, put the plate into incubator, clean up... 4:10pm. Went back to office... pack up laptop, which was on display only the whole day, haha!
If my efforts in the labs today was successful, I should be seeing some colonies growing tomorrow... hehe! We shall see, won't we? *winks* But, not that expectant for too great a result since still noob mah... Tomorrow will be running gel electrophoresis, and dunno what else. Another day in the labs, I suppose, hehe! Good oso la... if not whole day do nothing oso boring, right? Not taken any pictures... but then again, all this sounds so 'canggih' or high tech, but actually if you see it being done, it looks simple, haha! No time to stop and take pictures la... If got colony growth tomorrow then maybe got la... hehe!
All in all, long day... Especially the later part of the day, which I still have not figured out whether it is blog-able yet. If it is blog-able, then I'll be back... muahahahaha!! Hehe!
There was a demo on how to do PCR (polymerase chain reaction), followed by cloning (involving ligation and transformation), on Monday. Yeah, you heard it right... Cloning, man!! Me... doing cloning... hehehe!! Yesterday was Rae's turn to hands-on what was demonstrated on Monday, and today was mine. Hence, I was spending most of the day in the labs... brought my laptop to work, as usual, but didn't get a chance to even turn it on, haha!
The first part of the day was preparing the PCR reaction. PCR basically is to make many many copies of a desired fragment of DNA. Fooyoh... I sound so smart ler... haha!! Eh, almost 7 months in this new place, new 'field'... at least know a little bit la, hehe! The first few months was horribly torturing - imagine having a little bit of surface knowledge on basic PCR back in pre-uni, and choosing to drop (the subject) Biotechnology in uni! What and how much do you suppose I'd remember?! Practically have to learn all over again lor... and even deeper into the subject, since there's both theory and application.
So anyway, preparing for PCR took about an hour... Then put into machine (yeah, got machine lar... ah but then?) for the next 2.5 to 3 hours. So, when the machine 'took over' the work, got some free time. That time got no space to sit at my place, hehe. Colleague doing some work there. So, laptop cannot turn on and use lor. Have to borrow someone else's computer to quickly check email. As usual, email oso not much happening there lor, sigh. So, ended up discussing the procedure for the next part - cloning!!
Once the PCR finished, did ligation. Erm... ligation ah... ahem... oh dear, can't remember what it is now... Lemme think... Okay, ligation is something like joining the fragments of DNA (remember the fragment that was multiplied in PCR?) into a plasmid vector (vector is something like a carrier) to form a ring (containing the desired DNA), which is then inserted into living bacteria cells that will multiply, making even more copies of the desired DNA....
Confused?? Hehe, hope not...
After ligation, went for lunch lor. After lunch, did transformation, which is the insertion of the plasmid vector + desired fragment of DNA into living bacteria cells. By the time that was done, it was already 4pm. Spread the cells onto an agar plate containing growth media, put the plate into incubator, clean up... 4:10pm. Went back to office... pack up laptop, which was on display only the whole day, haha!
If my efforts in the labs today was successful, I should be seeing some colonies growing tomorrow... hehe! We shall see, won't we? *winks* But, not that expectant for too great a result since still noob mah... Tomorrow will be running gel electrophoresis, and dunno what else. Another day in the labs, I suppose, hehe! Good oso la... if not whole day do nothing oso boring, right? Not taken any pictures... but then again, all this sounds so 'canggih' or high tech, but actually if you see it being done, it looks simple, haha! No time to stop and take pictures la... If got colony growth tomorrow then maybe got la... hehe!
All in all, long day... Especially the later part of the day, which I still have not figured out whether it is blog-able yet. If it is blog-able, then I'll be back... muahahahaha!! Hehe!
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