THIS IS KIND OF WHAT MY DAY LOOKS LIKE. JEALOUS?

[naturallypixie]

"Molecular Biology Lab Work Time Lapse" on Google Video
What you are witnessing are four of the most fundamental molecular biology tasks; DNA extraction, Gel electrophoresis, PCR (polymerase chain reaction), and the use of restriction endonucleases. Or, in english, DNA extraction, sorting DNA by size, amplifying DNA, and cutting DNA. It's like cooking with minute volumes of clear liquid.

Comments

[beah.livejournal.com]

Hey, I did that in high school bio! Of course, in college bio we created mutant strains of E-coli, which seemed like a potentially silly thing to let a kid do. Science is cool.

[youvebeenpixied.livejournal.com]

You can make all of the mutant E. coli you want as long as it doesn't have a virulence plasmid in it.

You did a DNA gel in high school? I am so old.

[beah.livejournal.com]

You did a DNA gel in high school?

We did, and my class loved it. Mr. Blumenfeld used to spit every time he tried to say "electrophoresis".

I am so old.

Yeah, I doubt that, babe.

[youvebeenpixied.livejournal.com]

No, really. PCR was invented in 1985. I started high school in 1984 and there was no way in hell that a technique that new and expensive was going to be taught in a public high school. Did I mention that I will be 36 on my next birthday?

[mrf-arch.livejournal.com]

Speaking as part of the HS class of 1989, I feel your pain.

[beah.livejournal.com]

You two are the hottest 36-yr-olds I know!

[cos]

I'm from the same class year as you!

[reedrover]

Excellent! We did it too. Which high school did you attend?

(We've met, btw.)

[beah.livejournal.com]

Me? I went to HS in suburban NJ.

When did we meet? I can't place you.

[reedrover]

I believe I've had the pleasure of your acquaint at Arisia.

[beah.livejournal.com]

That seems highly likely. Want to give me any more clues as to who you are?

[reedrover]

Um, finding online photos of me is more difficult than I expected, since I don't post any. But tyratae to the rescue:

An obvious photo here and less flattering but probably more accurate picture of me is here.

Ahh, the good old high school days...

[reedrover]

Excellent! That looks sort of like what we did in high school when we got to try extraction/separation stuff with DNA strands of ... well, I know it wasn't african violet. African violets were in the class on cloning and proper sterile procedures -- anyone who's baby violet pieces molded got an F on that part. Regardless, DNA extraction and separation stuff was fun. We played with the "centrefuge" and argued about how it's really centripetal force, etc. and had a fun time trying to find the "boy" vs. "girl" strands (there weren't any)... we didn't get to do any recombinant stuff, though.

[awfief.livejournal.com]

I've done that in college biology. My twin brother does that all day, though -- he works at the Whitehead Institute. But I can't believe that video . The lab space is WAY to neat to be real.

[ulfrslady.livejournal.com]

Very cool. Why would you ampliphy DNA?

[em-yrt.livejournal.com]

But when does he go for Taste of China?

[youvebeenpixied.livejournal.com]

Hahahahahahahaha! :)

I miss you. You should come down here and play soon.