Labs
Lab writeups:
Pipetting Basics 🧪 First time in a wet lab very exciting! I learned about the different pipette ranges: P20 1–20 µL, P200 20–200 µL, P1000 100–1000 µL and when to use each one appropriately. I also practiced proper pipetting technique holding the pipette vertically identifying the first and second stops when pressing the plunger and carefully controlling the release to ensure accurate and precise liquid handling.
Week 2 Lab: DNA Read Write Edit
Lab Overview 🧬 Restriction enzymes ✂️ In Lab 2 I learned how restriction enzymes can be used to cut DNA at very specific sequences, almost like precise molecular scissors. These enzymes recognize short DNA sequences called restriction sites and cleave the DNA at or near those locations, allowing us to deliberately fragment genetic material in a controlled way.
Opentrons 🧫 In Lab 3 I learnt about Opentrons and how lab automation can turn biology into something creative and visual. We used the Opentrons OT-2 pipetting robot to precisely deposit genetically engineered E. coli onto black charcoal agar plates. These bacteria were engineered to express fluorescent proteins in different colors, so when the plates were placed under UV light, the patterns we programmed glowed brightly.