Silly Mistakes can be really damaging

Hey there,

Today, is really a great day..(sigh..) I have been working on this particular clone for at least six months. Cloning it is really tough as the kit that we are using is not as efficient as claimed by the company. So, after all those while of cloning, transforming and analysing without any success, yesterday, out of four plates, I got a single colony. This is good enough as previously I was getting nothing at all. And there is one group in UM who are also working on a similar project-they got a single clone which contains the insert. So, i was hopeful that the hard work has ended. Instead, that evening itself I had mistakenly cultured the single colony with the entry clone antibiotic which is different from the destination vector's antibiotic. This is sickening and I JUST DISCOVERED IT THIS MORNING AFTER REMOVING IT FROM THE SHAKER. The culture did not turn cloudy, then it hit me that the antibiotic is wrong. I quickly went to the decon bin to serach for the plate that I HAVE DECIDED to throw away yesterday after culturing. All hopes of rescuing any of the clones streak was totally dampen with the fact that no matter what I can't find the plate. It is probably buried with the rest of the plates in the bin. I hate myself for this mistake. Now, I have to repeat the whole thing from the very start.

Comparing Blog entries

Have been busy surfing the net in the past few weeks and stumbled upon some politically inclined blogs..though it was fun to read through the comments, lashings and opinions..couldn't help noticing that the blogs were much better managed than what I call 'my blog'..Seriously, it's like this people spent a lot of time in front of their laptops/computers to micro manage their blogs..everything is written down to detal with references and replies to the comments..not to mention that these people are politicians or involved in politics in some way..no, I am not discriminating their ability..just shocked that the internet fever has caught on with everyone..initially, I was under the impression that politicians are being more approachable..you know, like answering questions from the public..with more tech savvy asking questions that probably you don't want to answer directly...the blog provides them a platform to think and device their answers..not to mention how certain blog entries are posted on initially before they were retracted after a few days when certain parties advice the blog admin to remove them..well, now the internet is no longer a safer place to put up your thoughts...

Mental stress due to delayed work

It has been a while since I last updated my blog. Today,my work has been delayed due to improper planning. Well, I did plan but plans were totally fucked up..so much for figuring it out all alone..it could haver been much better if I had talked it out with someone.

I seriuosly need to vent it out and funny the mood to write down something is much better when I am totally distracted with the fact that I can't do much of a work today..

Have been googling Prince William for quite some time..I never really fancied him but these few weeks, I have been having trouble getting him out of my system.Have been downloading a lot of his photos and updating news about him..

I am probably stressed out..stress has a weird way of taking a toll on me..feels much better to put all that is going on in my mind right now into words..I need to get a clear plan on how I should spent my time today productively..

It came down CRASHING!

Hello there,

Ever had everything bad happening at the same moment that it makes you think exactly which side of the bed you got down this morning? Well, it happened to me and it happened on a Monday-which will be a great motivation for the rest of the week.

The night before my laptop cracked literally-the right side hinge had somehow ran out of lubricat or the screw has tighten up after frequently open and shut sessions-so, it got tight and cracked just right after I had finished watching movie- the laptop has had been making 'sounds' everytime I opened and shut it down, but there was no other problem so I had ignored it until it cracked...

The crack was till the battery compartment on the hind side..I can't use it until it comes back from the service centre( which reminds me that I HAVE TO SUBMIT AN ASSIGNMENT THIS THURSDAY!) Heck, everything is on the hard disc and I only have hard copies -so, I have to type it in again.

We had a tough time looking for the service centre which is hidden like among the buildings around the industrial park. Anyway, I have asked the technician and he estimated about RM500-that is a lot, it hurts to pay so much when all this while you have been taking care of the laptop like a previous thing.

Then, Monday morning I walked into the tissue culture room and discovered that the lights in the room has went off. The humidity level there was high and the temperature was above 30C, WHICH SPELLS BAD for the plants. High humidity means high vapor which can lead to contaminations!It has been that way since Sunday due to the heavy rain and thunder.

Then, I slipped and landed on my bum hard..it was when I was rushing to the service centre and I noticed that the soles of my heels have worn out-never thought it will jeopardize me on this very day-I must hace twisted my arm as I was really painful and was aching the whole night. Forgot to mention, but when I took the fall, two cleaners noticed that and laughed at me-this has been such a great day..

I have always thought that grown ups never fall down especially ladies-especially with high heels, my heels were not even high in the first place (heck, they were just two inches of the floor). It is a wonder how women walk in stilettos which are really high and less supportive to your weight.

Then, the whole night I was seriously stressed as my laptop was the only company that I have had-so, without it, life is so boring, was clueless as what to do-you can't be sitting at your desk forever and dedicate your time to reading journals and doing assignments no matter how productive they are...I was staring at the walls till 4am in the morning..so much for productivity...

My laptop won't be in till Friday--I am so stressed-have not started on my assignment yet---

On Monday, I replied my supervisor's e-mail on the report that I have sent her on Friday the week before...she was pissed off on the fact that she had been sending e-mails to me yet the was failure to send notice so she asked if there's anything wrong with it..

I just replied it is perfectly okay cause all this while she had no problems e-mailing me (she is in US now). Heck, she received my report so where is the problem? Obviously at her end...I was not that sad that I did not receive her e-mail (glad in fact...)

Okay that is all..someone wants to check her e-mails..got to go...too long blogging will make people notice..

Amount of effort in designing posters for conferences

Hai there again,

Twice in a day, which rarely happens. Guest I have a lot to say and a lot of time in ny hands before 5pm today. So, thought all out there would like to know what is bugging me right now..

How to design a good poster? (Good here refers to an award winning poster -of course) I have been studying quite a number of posters, especially those which had won awards (to compare and learnt)..but I can't see much difference in it.

I noticed from the past two conferences that I have attended that the is a trend to award those posters that are more of economic or medicinal value (more to cancer research or anti allergen compounds etc) which should not be the way..

So, I was thinking why should I put any effort if the award is based on the type of project? Then, again what is the fun of prticipating if you don't have anything to fight for? I mean a purpose to put up the poster..Well, supervisors will most probably say that it is important to publish and that is a purpose enough..(I hear you-not a good reason for us right!)

But, I thought I would just put in all the effort that I can give, then, leave it to god (okay, so unscientific but is there any other option?)

Competitions are supposed to bring out the best in us- by really working hard for the aim or award but when from the very start you know that the system in giving out the awards are basically flawed, you just don't want to do it..

Got this thinking until my brain was totally heated up-I just walked over to my co-supervisor and asked her about it. She told me that efforts should be minimal given the situation of the conference. That was really honest of her but really it is so unlike me to give up and do a 'half baked job'..

like I said -I am a perfectionist and minimal efforts just don't get along with me..

Well, I will put my best effort and hopefully will win the award.

It will be nice to win and parade at those whom had not won at all throughout the years they have put up posters at different conferences!

A day of disappointments

Hai there,

It has been quite some time since I last painted some of the scenarios that were taking place in the lab.
Good news..dear supervisor is away for 6 months at US for her sabbatical leave..so, we are like 6 months free without having to continously look out for her to drop by unexpectantly at the lab.

And the events of today, I came in rushing as I had to go to pick my cheque at the financial department at 10am, so I came in at 8.45 to do the PCR. Got that done and was preparing the 1% agarose gel when I just realized that I forgot to put in the plasmid into the PCR cocktail..(oh my god!)

Checked the cycle on the PCR machine and it was already at the annealing temperature..I took it out anyway and put in the plasmid, (although I knew the chances are quite slim that the amplification can be rectified (probably the polymerase enzyme is ruined at this point)

Started the cycle again from the denaturation part and ran the results on the gel, the gel had primer dimers (I am not sure whether this is due to the mistake that I have made, or it is just that whatever that I wanted to amplify did not amplify because the particular plasmid does not contain the insert that it should contain)

If latter is the case, then my cloning is not successful, doing RNAi is not easy (this is like my 20th attempt). I have decided to start a new cloning cycle but would like to check on a few stuffs. Did I mention that last thursday, I got a few colonies which practically overgrew as there was a blackout for three days in the lab? So the colonies were really big plus there were a lot of other colonies which nearly merged with the once that I got initially.

I cultured them overnight at 370C in kanamycin resistance LB but they manage to grow,my idea is that the pANDA vector ligated back to itself.

When I went to the financial department, I was told that the previous month cheque will not be given as it will be kept for quality control sake and will be given when I graduate (duh, this is so irritating...!) However, someone else got the cheque for two months and it is not in the record (I quickly e-mailed the officer in charge of this situation so that she can look into matters). Sorry, getting your friend in trouble is not so good but in this case I think this is appropriate (given the circumstances that I was deprived of my cheque!) .

So, I just banked in the other cheque and was told that the money will be in by evening, (why can't they do it and get it into the account by that time itself. Well, knowing haw these people work, I shall check tomorrow for the updated version of the account. The happenings today had disturbed my plans financially..

I went to a nearby shop which sells shoes and clothes. saw this one dress which is beautiful but it is costly, got it at a lower price but I am sure the price is still high and unreasonable so decided to hunt it down at some other stores-they should have it (it is so chic so almost all departmental stores should have this style..can't help it (I am not stressed because of what happened today-it is just that I need a place to vent it out) .

Some surprise took place today with someone suddenly displaying emotions (It is not that this person is not popular with emotions display but weird when it is done individually). Let' s give this person a name - the co-supervisor.. (told you-it is a big surprise).

I need to tell all about today and I think that's it-it rains everyday and that is kind of fun...someone is seriously taking advantage of the system by not coming to the lab often (there is always an excuse) . I did not bother to follow up as I knew something is amiss ( the truth will
prevail). Will get her back for it when that happens.

So while I was doing this, some nosy people (always have been that way) in the lab suddenly noticed and were very interested. I on the other hand have no intentions of sharing my blog stuff as what I am writing is about them (some hunch that they won't take it to well).

I am signing off and that is the story for today...

Some Bizarre Things in the Lab

Dear all,

Recently, all of my lab experiments were like somewhere down the drain...things have not been working as smoothly as I thought it would..

I do understand that there is a lag phase for all scientist for a time being before things pick up their speed...and everything goes on well. However, it has been like 8 months and there is no improvement at all..
something is seriously stopping me from obtaining the results that I want..results that I am getting has never happened before..weird

kind of bored with life in the lab...plasmid extraction -most of the time yields 3 bands maximum,I have been getting like 4 bands..probably contamination...
have to repeat that again,...this is really pissing me off..

On the other hand, there's wireless connection in the room where I stay for a certain period of time..I have been spending some time watching movies on the net..(old movies but enjoyable-better still than to be surrounded with ceilings and walls al over without any entertainment)

Then, have been sleeping late, due to the movie watching and also stressed up with scenarios in the lab...tomorrow there is the meeting again-you know what it is all about..
this Friday, have a presentation and have not got the slides ready yet..no big deal but was just wondering how to present it in such a way that it does not resemble anything like- THE JOURNAL CLUB slide- just wanted it to be hype and different..(being me is soo..impossible as I have to do it..differently, better, attractive and of course the best of all!)

One problem with me is that I take everything seriously and my efforts are too..much for what worths nothing that just a LAME PRESENTATION-others do it just to fulfill their responsibility, I take it one step further to make it understandable and knowledgable for everyone..

sound like bragging but trust me, it is not the case here..I have always been that overexpressed person who has to put all the efforts to impress all...just to get people mocking or not appreciating it later..

what matters is that i am happy...the end of today's story

Great Fraud Presentation

Dear all,

We had a slide presentation on Thursday afternoon on ethics in science especially misconduct in science. So, my group got the topic 'Fraud in Science'..Since the whole thing was a last minute work, (I hate last minute tasks) but it is hard to avoid when some other people are responsible for the ineffciency.

Wednesday afternoon we got together and hunted for informations..regarding the topic.
Then, I took the ugly slides home and decorated them..okay, I was working from 10pm at night til 5am the next morning to beautify the slides..Trust me, I can't stand slides which are below my expectation levels..especially if I were to present the slides to an audience of 30 (even though, all of them are just my friends)..

As expected, from other groups, the performance was really bad..their slides looked like it has been done like 15 minutes ago....(well, the audiences slept through the slides)- that must be really bad isn't it?

So, after the great presentation by me..I was expecting some 'you know what' -comments on how I performed-honestly, I think some praisal is due for the presentation that I gave..

Disappointingly, he (the lecturer) said all 'did a great job'! Can you believe it? sigh, he is 78 years old..maybe, he has lost his ability to tell apart what is best and what is not..must be some chemical toxication over the time spent in the lab...

well, end of the great story...the great thing is that the whole presentation material was a 'cut and paste' from the internet-a fraud slide..the best part-no one realized it...how bad can this be?

Weekly Meetings in the lab

Hai there,

Had my weekly meeting today with Prof June...that's the most interesting event every week(that's a lie)..knocked on her door twice and did not her the usual -'come in' voice..plus the room was dark (should have known that she is not in yet). But, again-she has never been late on this special day of weekly meetings. It is a day when she can really show off how smart, detailed and accurate she is in finding out our mistakes..she literally scans the reports sent in with a SEM(SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE) ..that lady can detect even a coma missing in the report..and grammatical checks (reminds me of English class).. last week's comment was -'your report is too detailed,please write a summry of your work-no details'..

This week's comment-'your report is too simple-please write it in such way that it depicts that you are a postgraduate student...' well, was thinking that maybe she should write the report her self since it never suits her likings...

Today (basically all meeting days) is like an unofficial holiday as I will usually have no mood to conduct any lab works..(due to the side effect of the meeting) -explains why I am having so much time to write down a post for the blog..

Well, that's it for today....

Return of the boss

Dear world,



Rocket scientist here..the lab was unusually quiet and dull today..well, situation understood...code red- THE BOSS HAS RETURN

Prof June (not her real name....) has returned from a trip to Mexico...from a conference

Two weeks without her was like hell broken loose...



With her office just around the corner of the lab..she continously makes her presence known with frequent visits to the lab...one actually wonders if she ever gets bored coming down to the lab all the time..



The answer is no- 'she gets to watch and spy on students whom are laughing out, gossipping and going online - then she moves in for the kill at our weekly meeting.



The meetings are mighty personal where she spends from half an hour minimum up to one and half hour depending on the severity of the case...

Trust me it is not an enjoyable experience ..and one that is dreaded...

Weekly meetings are full of motivational talk and advice and 'how you should focus on your projects' that one will definitely crave for holiday after it is over...

Now is not a convenient time to put thoughts into words..more to come in future on Prof June

Gloom day in the lab

Dear World

Rocket scientist here (reporting to planet Earth for the first time)...today seems to be soo..quiet in the lab..when for a dental check up...was waiting at the KTM station when the rain came down heavy..with the wind as well, drenching all at the station..Someone must have forgotten to take their bath....hmm..wonder who was it? No one looked suspicious enough to be the culprit..

anyway, there is this guy..around his 20s..black T-shirt with yellow stripes and worn down jeans..kind of attractive..(love people watching) brushed pass twice...did not spark any chemistry...but,..left Rocket scientist wondering why?..

Got to the lab, people around seem to be totally off mood today...the weather seems to have a hand in this phenomena..it is not often that everyone is infected with 'my experiments are results deficient' virus...

Rocket scientist is feeling multi high today and especially today- got one of the articles published in some local entertainment mag..a short article yet looking at it in the latest edition of the mag stirs happy feelings..

Nothing of science but once in a while it helps to remind Rocket scientist that she's a smart girl...who loves to write and publish the pieces that she wrote...(she never keeps it in a box for it to turn yellow and rot...for her words and efforts are worth to be known and read)

That's all for today...first attempt to communicate with people of Earth..should keep it light and easy..till next time,when rocket scientist gets on duty..will try to report more.