Week 2 Semester 2

This week has been pretty slow, my research at TGEN was limited to one day due to Monday's holiday. This week at TGEN I was given the task of sorting through several kit for disposal. The kits may contain chemicals which are considered hazardous so it is my job to sort through each kit and locate what chemical hazard are contained and how they are to be properly disposed of. This task proves to become difficult when kits come from companies which have been taken under new ownership and those kits are renamed and given a new product number. These kinds of tasks will coincide with my research upon the aerosol project allowing for me to not only do research to assist TGEN's labs but also assist the environmental health and safety department in keeping on track with proper protocols.

Week 1 Semester 2

This week has concluded my 4th week since the beginning of my internship at TGEN. Kathleen is a great mentor and she is in charge of the environmental health and safety aspect of TGEN's operations. An overview of my next semester will be research based on bio-aerosols and how they transmit viruses and diseases. I will also be in charge of keeping up to date safety data sheets based on the chemicals being used in the TGEN labs. I have done 1 inventory check and it is cool to get to see all the chemicals the labs use for all the different simultaneous projects being run.

Week 9

Week 9 has become the week dedicated to my analysis of my project. As this semester draws to a close and my projects data becomes clear how to interpret my data and explain my results. To begin my experiment I identified the bacteria which was given to me as an unknown, through a series of tests and a couple inconclusive tests I identified Bacillus subtilis was my unknown bacteria. Knowing the bacteria which I was working with I proceeded to perform a DNA extraction of my bacteria using 2 kits, from these 2 kits I would be able to compare quantity vs quality of the DNA. I reviewed the DNA extraction protocol for the E.Z.N.A. Bacterial DNA kit, but prior to beginning the DNA extraction I was prompted to a similar experiment that would yield results for a better purpose. My experiment was slightly altered, from comparing the DNA extractions of 2 kits to comparing the DNA extraction of 1 kit to the DNA extraction using egg white lysozymes. I would now test the DNA kit and egg white on my new day 1 of the experiment to set a bench mark or baseline for DNA extraction yields. Followed by a DNA extraction using the egg white every week after to gather data on the shelf life of the egg white lysozyme.

Week 10

The research phase of my experiment is officially over, as I analyze the data I come to realize egg white is not viable for a long time. To be exact egg white lysozyme is of no use after 1 week. The sample from Bacillus subtilis has come out a yield rate of less than half. This week has been dedicated to my research paper and formatting the data properly so others can understand the protocol I used. Without being able to fully explain my process and having someone reattempt my experiment I cannot prove a successful experiment.  I believe the most important thing to learn here is not the actual experiment but the process of a science experiment: trial and error, questioning steps and how they work, but most important of all to me would be the ability to hand some one else my notebook and they can use what i have done not only as an example but a guide to conduct the experiment. I have to admit my notebook this semester is not the cleanest, nor is it detailed enough for someone to repeat my experiment. In time I plan on taking this mistake and all other mistakes I have made throughout this semester and finding how I can do what I did wrong better next time.

Week 8

My nano-drop tests for this week have really affected my experiment. My hypothesis was right, the shelf life of lysosomes from egg whites for DNA extractions is not very long, less then 1 week to be exact. After last weeks DNA extraction and nano-drop, i repeated the exact same process this week only to obtain half the DNA results from 1 week ago. This brings the question how can I alter the lysosomes to extend its shelf life without compromising its chemical properties that allow for it to be used in DNA extraction? Can I partially prep the egg white and would the shelf life be greater? or to be more specific should I test a DNA extraction everyday to know exactly how long the shelf life really is? For now I will draft up my research paper upon this experiment drawing my final conclusions about the experiment and my obstacles and mistakes throughout this wonderful learning experience. This is a picture of my original Bacteria testing before getting into the DNA extractions.

Week 7 Back in the Lab

So after a successful robotics competition I am happy to be back in the lab working with the extraction of lysozyme from egg white. Due to having my previous lysozyme extraction sit unused for too long I dedicated this week to create a fresh batch of lysozyme and a test of DNA extraction from the fresh batch. After the batch was freshly made I completed a DNA extraction from my original unknown bacteria using a DNA extraction kit and my lysozyme in order to compare and create a baseline of data for the following weeks. Using a nano-drop technique I tested the DNA extractions for purity and successful extraction.

Week 6 Vex competiton

Due to a upcoming competition, this week I have sidelined my time in the lab in order to complete and finalize my plan for my robot in order to compete this weekend. From the beginning till now the robot has been taken apart and put together several times and each time being a different robot performing the same task. Now I have finalized my design choice for this competition with a scorpion style design. sacrificing speed for torque and the ability to raise a cube over the fence, still some work is in progress with 2 days left. My center of mass for the robot needs adjusting due to the weight of a cube tilting the robot over rendering it useless. I'm not sure if I should add a wheelie bar style assistance to it or adjust the center of mass over the rear tires to allow the cube to be over the center of the chassis. That is my goal for tomorrow experiment with both options and make a final decision for the competition.