Hi again!
I just wanted to update you all on this last week.
We are still trying to find the core problem with our gels. I repeated the PCR protocol multiple times this week and casted several gel electrophoresis. However, only once, did a single band show up for one of the samples.
I reviewed past notes and images the lab had to see the procedures that were conducted which led to successful gels and learned that they stopped working when we got new enzymes in the lab. I also found out that when the gels were working, the PCR was set to a different program than the one we currently use.
These are the two possibilities as to why the gels are not working right now. On Monday, the lab will be getting new enzymes and hopefully then, we will be able to genotype our samples.
But I have some exciting news as well!
Last summer, another intern and I held a poster presentation on the research we had conducted over the course of a few months. Now, we are given the chance to write an article on our results. It should be done by the end of the month!
I am excited to begin this new process and to go to the lab on Monday to see how the samples turn out!
Thank you for following me along the journey of this research process!!
Hope you all have a great weekend,
Pooja
I hope the new samples work out! I can't wait to hear more about your article! What was your presentation on when you did that and will your paper be on the same topic? Can't wait to see what you do next week!
ReplyDeleteThanks Leah! My presentation discussed the mutation that is related to epilepsy and intellectual disability in children is actually associated with a Rett Syndrome Like Phenotype. Some background of this article is actually in my SRP Proposal if you are more interested!
DeleteCongratulations, Pooja! I, too, am eager to read the article!
ReplyDeleteDo you currently have any hypotheses as to why the PCR isn't working? Are you on your own or working with a team to troubleshoot? I am sure that there is much to be learned from this process - all great scientific breakthroughs seem to require their own fair share of trial and error. :)
Thanks Ms. Mitrovich! We believe the PCR is not working because the primers are not working. We just got new primers delivered so hopefully, we will actually start to reach conclusive results. Me and another intern are mostly working on this genotyping project as there are several other projects occurring in this lab as well.
DeleteIt will be very interesting to see whether or not using a different program can alter the results so much. Hopefully with the new enzymes you can get it to work! Congratulations on the article! Can't wait to see what you're doing next week.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the article! Is the difficulty you are having common with gel electrophoresis?
ReplyDelete