Hi Everyone!
Hannah B. here again reporting from the Meadows’ Lab at Tulane University. My role here has certainly become more interesting as the weeks pass on. The first week I didn’t start my personal project yet. I helped out with experiments that the lab tech, Katie, and our grad student, Angela, were working. It was also a time for me to get really comfortable using the lab, practicing safe working habits, and learning where everything was. I had a chance to practice some embryo and retina dissections under the microscope, which were both quite challenging. I haven’t gotten the hang of the retinas yet, but I will keep practicing during every opportunity I am given.
The second week was when I started my project: in situ hybridizations. This is basically a procedure that lets us see where certain precursors to proteins, mRNA, are being expressed in a sample. The procedure takes about 3 days to complete, and I’ve tried the procedure a few times with some successes and some mistakes. However, all the mistakes I’ve made have been learning experiences so that I can do a better job next time.
-Hannah B.