Outcome First Week

Me at my bench.

My objective for the first week was to isolate the plasmid carrying the inhA wild type gene and construct two mutants with a site directed mutagenesis of one amino acid.

1.5% Agarose Gel
with plasmid bands

On Tuesday I received my access card! No more "smiling and waving" to get into the research areas every morning and borrowing to get down to autoclave.

Right on my second day, I had to learn that most of the time experiments and procedures don’t work out perfectly. Even though, I worked thoroughly and sticking to protocol my first two plasmid isolations didn’t have a desired yield….well, so I did again with a slight change of protocol and e voilà it worked!

However, my luck didn’t continue as my SDM (site directed mutagenesis) didn’t work for first time with the competent cells provided by the kit, nor the second time with self-made competent E.coli DH5α….

Unfortunately, the reagents of the kit wouldn’t be enough for another reaction, so I have to wait for the new one to arrive...time to read more papers! 

 

All in all, a pleasant first week. I learnt a lot already, especially to be calmer and less paranoid about my skills!

I am also very grateful for all the support I received from the PhDs and Post-docs in the lab.