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WEEK 7 (2009)

I spent this past week taking images of the B.pacifica and B.neritina ovicells that contained (what seems to be) E.sertula cells! It has been quite a challenge to keep everything organized -- I relabeled every sample I considered significant so that I could keep better track of my "final" images.

Also, this week I looked at my final FISH samples from B.pacifica. So far, I have some great images that I am very excited to share in my presentation and paper!

Finally, this week I started cloning, a procedure that will allow me to sequence the 16S rRNA gene of B.pacifica's symbiont. This is important to do because it will tell us if the cell-like images I have been seeing through the confocal laser scanning microscope are truly what we are looking for; there is a chance that these images are due to false binding, autofluorescence, etc. Thus, it's good to do a double-check through sequencing; if the sequences closely match those of E.sertula and E.glebosa, other Bugula symbionts, then my images are more likely to be real! 

GOALS FOR NEXT WEEK:

- Finally start bryostatin labeling!
- Present some preliminary findings to the other interns
- Perform FISH on B.pacifica larvae

It's getting so close to the end! Ah!