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WEEK 3

This week has gone by fast! I have been purifying the DNA in our samples by preparing a low melting agar gel, running the samples and then cutting out the DNA bans to purify them. Although I did encounter a problem on the second day when the final product did not turn out, this method has worked well. With the gel purified extractions I ran 16s and 18s PCR reactions at different dilutions to determine what gave the best result. Overall, the best result was obtained by using twice as much template. Additionally, with Pete’s help, Lydie and I used an online primer database to determine which other primer (in addition to the OITS primer) I will use.  The primer we chose has a sequence of GGATGGTGGTGCATGGTC. The primer arrived today so I am excited to start using it!

Today, I extracted 4 more samples which I will use next week to run some 18s PCR reactions using the new primer.  Also, next week we are going sampling! I am very excited to get out in the field and get some more samples to try out my new primer with!

Tomorrow Vanessa is taking the interns to the Bonneville Dam and hiking around Multnomah Falls. I am very anxious to get out of the lab and into the sunshine :)