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Guesswork Science
Aug. 11th, 2004 10:51 amI suppose that most of science is guesswork, really. A hypothesis is, after all, just a glorified, educated guess. Some things, though, we should be able to count on.
When I stained my protein gel yesterday, I followed the protocol precisely and got beautiful results. No really, it looked rather pretty, what with all the aquamarine-colored bands. The protocol then told me to put the gel in a different solution - one that would clear up any background ickiness (not that I saw any) and it would intensify the stain (great!). The protocol also says that this solution will maintain the gel and its stain for at least 2 months. Fantastic, said I, as I changed the solution and left the whole kit and caboodle to stew overnight.
I came in this morning, excited to take a picture of my pretty little gel.
I open the box. . . nothing.
ARGH!
Peiwei witnessed the beautiferous gel, so at least there's someone to back me up, but damn!
So this is where the scientific guesswork begins. I thought about the reaction that occurred to produce the stain in the first place, and thought about how I could reverse the process - maybe reset the system, so to speak. I just tried it out, totally guessing at volumes and incubation times, and am going through the first process all over again. I hope this is a sort of thing that can be reset. I want my pretty blue bands back!
Biology by guesswork is one thing, but chemistry by guesswork is another matter entirely. I haven't asphyxiated myself or my coworkers (yet), so at least I'm not a dangerous chemist. Let's just hope I am a successful one.
On an unrelated note: what kind of asshat puts their dog out at 6am so it can start barking the neighborhood awake? The stupid thing was tied up in its backyard, just adjacent to the bedroom window where I was - emphasis on was - peacefully snoozing. Bastards.
When I stained my protein gel yesterday, I followed the protocol precisely and got beautiful results. No really, it looked rather pretty, what with all the aquamarine-colored bands. The protocol then told me to put the gel in a different solution - one that would clear up any background ickiness (not that I saw any) and it would intensify the stain (great!). The protocol also says that this solution will maintain the gel and its stain for at least 2 months. Fantastic, said I, as I changed the solution and left the whole kit and caboodle to stew overnight.
I came in this morning, excited to take a picture of my pretty little gel.
I open the box. . . nothing.
ARGH!
Peiwei witnessed the beautiferous gel, so at least there's someone to back me up, but damn!
So this is where the scientific guesswork begins. I thought about the reaction that occurred to produce the stain in the first place, and thought about how I could reverse the process - maybe reset the system, so to speak. I just tried it out, totally guessing at volumes and incubation times, and am going through the first process all over again. I hope this is a sort of thing that can be reset. I want my pretty blue bands back!
Biology by guesswork is one thing, but chemistry by guesswork is another matter entirely. I haven't asphyxiated myself or my coworkers (yet), so at least I'm not a dangerous chemist. Let's just hope I am a successful one.
On an unrelated note: what kind of asshat puts their dog out at 6am so it can start barking the neighborhood awake? The stupid thing was tied up in its backyard, just adjacent to the bedroom window where I was - emphasis on was - peacefully snoozing. Bastards.
