S-STEM Scholars Sam Bennett's Blog

  Introductions: pRAD1     For this week's research, we focused mainly on practical experience. Getting in the lab and doing some hands-on learning. We began our research by using pRAD1 which contains a promoter, Amp R, Ori, and CmR; it is also resistant to ampicillin and cloriphenical. We started with our e.coli broth from the previous week, which we resuspended with the vortex since it was sitting for a week. After the broth has been resuspended we then removed 1 mL of the broth and placed it into an Eppendorf tube. Following the broth being added to the Eppendorf tube, we then centrifuged it for 30 seconds at 13,000 rpm. The end goal was to lice the cells so we can get plasmid. After the tube is done in the centrifuge we discarded the supernate (liquid) and kept the tiny pellet.        After we discarded the supernate we resuspended the pellet in a B1 buffer solution of 200 uL. We then added the B2 buffer solution to our Eppendorf tube. Gently inver...

 Introduction: TRAIN Keeps Rolling     Week 2 of research was getting to the nitty-gritty. Since introductions were out of the way already, the team and I got right to it. The question arose from our mentor, Jonathan, "how does bacteria spread"? As my mask covered the blank expression across my face 😐, I knew I needed to say something. As the table sat quiet, a spark of genius came across my mind, "something touching it then touching something else" I blurted. While in my mind nobody could tell me I am wrong, I was only partially right. Jonathan then explains to the team and me, that there are four ways bacteria can spread; conjugation, transformation, transduction, and vesiduction. For our research, we will be focusing on transformation, which is when genetic material is directly taken up and incorporated by a cell through the cell membrane.  Magnetic Pull: Gel Electrophoresis     After Jonathan went into great detail about the different methods of how ba...

Introduction to Research: First Week     On February 4th Dr. Touhy reached out to me regarding my interest in the STEM TRAIN Scholars program. Naturally, I was excited to see he went out of his way to contact me. We sent back and forth emails a couple times before he invited me to come to see the lab.   Once I made it to the lab Dr. Touhy greeted me and showed me around the lab and explained to me what everything does (do not quiz me on everything though). He explained the process and how the research works within the lab, and how I would be working with a team and mentor. Then Dr. Touhy introduced me to Jonathan and the team. Teamwork     Once I was introduced to Jonathan and the team, I hit the ground running. As I found myself joining in the middle of thei r day, and a f ew weeks behind, there was a lot of catching up to do. Thankfully for me, everyone on the team is extremely nice and helpful, seeing as I asked the same questions repetitively. From ther...