Week 9

This was the week of Thanksgiving and it was cut short. I didn’t get to do any lab work which is what I’m focused on getting out of the way ASAP before I sit down and put everything else together.

Fortunately, the department planed a potluck and it was very pleasant. The food was delicious and I enjoyed laughing loudly at Kevin Hart’s stand up special in the warm company of my fellow STEM peers and faculty.

Anyone’s stress levels are usually skyrocketing during this time of the semester so it’s nice to shake things up a little with some good food, good company and laughter.

I’m thankful for the potluck. 

Week 8

Week 8 did not go down the way I anticipated it.

For my project I plan on running several (if possible 3) DNA extractions using all 6 techniques to identify the best protocol specific to Staphylococcus Aureus. This week my goal was to get one run done from beginning to end including the electrophoresis DNA separation but I was unable to.

I really felt like I needed to reach that goal to avoid being rushed in the end. Now it seems like that’s what is going to end up happening.

The good news is that I have become very comfortable with the protocols and I think that I will have good results in the end. Stay posted for a mayhem update. =O

Week 7

During this week I was able to get advice on the final project for this internship. There were some questions that I had as far as the direction to go on. After meeting with Josh I felt at ease because some of my original thoughts where not too far off from the expectations. That put the wind back on my sail

This week I didn't do much work in the laboratory but I was able to map out the things that I will be doing for the following weeks.

Thank you Joshua for the sit-down, you’re a well of knowledge!

Week 6

DNA Concentration and Separation by Electrophoresis

At the end of last week, I ran the samples through a spectrophotometer which analyzed the concentration of DNA, RNA, and proteins.This week, I separated these compounds by the electrophoresis method. Bellow is a picture of what the separation of these compounds looked like on the stationary gel used.

One very important thing that I learned this week was to make my very own gel to run the electrophoresis apparatus. I had experience with the electrophoresis apparatus in the past and so i was familiar with the different part of the device and I had an idea of the mechanisms behind this method, that was not new to me.

What was new to me however, was making my own gel. Before I thought that these gels where already fabricated and I was expecting to simply peel one out of some plastic wrapper as if it were a Popsicle. Then, Jasmine Patricio guided me to collect the materials and chemicals necessary for to produce this gel. It was as if we were about to cook a dish, in a sense we were cooking because at one point we heated a mixture containing a solution of TAE and Agarose in the microwave.

The first gel that was produced was not useful because it was too thick and it was missing CyberGreen, a component that stains DNA and it allows it to glow under UV light. That day wasn't very productive as it was near 5 o'clock and we were going to have to home soon.

The next time that I was in lab I prepared the gel successfully on my second try that day.

After getting a gel that would work I ran the separation method with the electrophoresis apparatus. Bellow is a picture of what that run looked like.
The well to the far left was loaded with: loading dye and a molecular-weight size marker also known as a ladder.
The two subsequent where left alone.
The the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th well form left to right were filled with my 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th sample of DNA extraction respectively and loading dye.

Something important to note about this result is the size of the ladder under the first well. It looks very bright and short in size, which means it will not be very helpful in determining the size of the bands. One thing that could be improved next time is allowing the eletrophoresis process to run for a bit longer. In this case it was set for 30 minutes, in the futer I think I can double to amount of time and see if that will give for a better latter.

Week 5

This week I conducted the DNA extraction from Staphylococcus Aureus which resulted to be the unknown bacteria. This conclusion was made on the observation of clustered circular positive gram stained organisms as well as the results of the following tests: positive catalyst test, positive glucose fermentation and positive MSA test.

Next, I ran the DNA extraction protocols with the header: Developing an Effective E-Coli Protocol and modified it a little because it made no sense.

Today, I analyzed the DNA concentrations obtained from the different protocols and out of the 4 samples that I had 2 results hit the sweet spot.

Next week I’ll be analyzing the same samples using some sort gel. Stay tuned to find out what that means.

Till next time,

Luis

Week 4

When I got back to lab on Tuesday, the test tube that I had left over the weekend to test for glucose fermentation was gone. 

By Friday, I had determined that the bacteria that I’m dealing with is: Gram-positive, circular in shape, and clustered together like grapes yummy. 

On Tuesday, what was left to do since I had no results, due to the missing test tube, was first and foremost get my own test tube rack. Then, I prepared all the identification test at the same time. 

Those were: Glucose fermentation, Lactose, TSI, and the salted agar test, i forget what the name of that one is. Those where place in the incubator at 37 celsius. Here is a video (hopefully it uploads, if not I’ll clip frames) that shows the different test tubes ready to cook.

Week THREE Post

 

Two days ago (Tuesday) was my first day working in the department under the supervision of Matt, and as customary I was watched the lab safety videos which are super important. I especially liked the last few set of short clips, they were hilarious yet it reminded me of the possibilities of catastrophes that can occur in a lab setting. Also, I got to learn many new things.  One such example is the different designations that I laboratory could be categorized as depending on the work that is performed within the facilities.

Today (Friday), I got started on the process of identifying an unknown bacteria and I got as far as I possibly could. Currently, there is a petri dish with my name in the incubator and a vial with an unknown sample in the refrigerator. Tomorrow I’ll be back in the lab to continue and do as much as I can in whatever time I’m allowed to have. Here is a picture of my streaked dish.

Hi everyone,

I would like to announce that I was interviewed on Friday by Matt and Joshua and I’m now a participant of the internship offered here at Phoenix College for S-STEM Scholars. I will be in the department mainly between the hours of 12:30 pm and 5 o’clock pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Fridays between 10 am and 12:00 pm. I’ll still be going to the hospital on the weekends but I will no longer be participating in the NASA Ascend project. I had to excuse myself from that collaboration because it was more than I could handle. However, I’m happy to be here because I know that I will learn many things from this experience aside from the fact that this internship defines more what I would like to be a part of in the future. 

Stay posted for more updates,

Luis Aparicio

post "numero UNO"

It was very nice meeting all of you this morning (scholars and faculty) and I hope to get to know you each a little more as the semester goes by. Also, I can’t wait to start reading about the different projects that you each take on because I know that I will learn a whole lot from your ideas and your work. I truly am excited about participating in a program like this because it’s very different from your typical classroom learning experience. Thinking ahead, I know that I will have to analyze things differently, perhaps a lot more critically than I’m used but that’s A-Okay, after all that’s the point, to learn new techniques and skills. 

Lastly, I think the blog posts will be challenging for me at first as far as how they should look. If anyone has any suggestion that may have worked for you when in the past and you would like to share them please fell free to do so, I would gladly appreciate that. If there’s anything that I can elaborate on or clarify please let me know too. I like questions. 

Luis