I have been working in the same lab for over 3 years. Many of the experiments that I do follow roughly the same protocol, especially in preparing the sample. With few exceptions, I use modified buffered salt solution (MBSS) to suspend the cells.
But today, without noticing, I grabbed the bottle labeled, "MBSS sans Ca2+/Mg2+". As John Harmon will readily tell you, "sans" means without. I don't know if that is Greek or Latin. And no one in the lab speaks either Greek or Latin, so I don't know why we don't label it as "w/o." That's faster to write than "sans." I guess that's just what we scientists do--use the fancy way to say something simple.
Anyway, basically I ruined the 3 experiments I did because there needed to be calcium in the medium for the whole thing to work. Dang it.
The thing that's most frustrating about it is that I should have realized what the problem was after the first experiment. Someone else had to (very charitably) point out the problem to me. So I felt like a robot today who just goes through the motions of doing research but isn't capable of generating real solutions to problems or really thinking about what I'm doing.
Am I ready to convince my thesis committee that they should let me graduate? Or do I really have no idea what I'm doing? Either way, I'll be glad when April comes...
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6 comments:
Great, now I'm the guy who says stuff like, "did you know that sans means without? I know Latin so I know!" You might as well hand me some windex and let me go to work.
thinking is for ugly people.
that's what i always say.
Oh, Rachel. I hope you don't take it too hard! Science doesn't come quickly--and a lot of research involves repetitive experiments. It's easy to go on autopilot... and then not notice something important. Believe me, I've botch my fair share of experiments! :) And I'm sure you'll be on the other end sometime soon--pointing out to someone else why their experiment isn't working. :)
=D. But doesn't it make a great story? Love you!
I know exactly what you mean about being in robot mode. Yesterday Zach was eating chips and salsa and drinking some juice. He finished his juice and went to pour another glass but poured it in his salsa instead! haha... silly robots
If Kat is right, which she always is, I am the most handsome man on earth!
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